4,000

I still don't have any waterproof gear because I don't think of myself as a rainy day biker, but I keep finding myself out pedaling in rain! I think I will end up buying some gortex before the spring rainy season.

My road bike is like new after the shop tuneup, but the weather has only been reasonable for 2 rides on it since. X6 is still in the shop. Thankfully I have the mtn bike to take out in the wet. It's been out two days this week, pretty much all on pavement. The short shoreline access paths are usually fun diversions from the pavement, but today they were more like small streams and I felt too soaked and cold and skipped them.

Today's ride got me to 4,012.28 miles for the year.

Weekly Stats

I had 2 days off this week, so 5 days of riding and 125.54 miles. I'm kinda sad to see the miles that low compared to the last couple of months, but it's actually good mileage in terms of what I can usually do in winter.

Given the road conditions, I still haven't had a ride on my tuned up road bike! I'm hoping I can ride it tomorrow. The X6 is getting worked on, like fixing the rear brake that has been unusable unless I want to hear an awful noise. I'm looking forward to finding out what's been causing that! It will get a new chain and general tightening up.

I really shouldn't have let either bike go so long without a tune up. I thought the benefit of having multiple bikes would be that one was always in good shape when the other needed work, but somehow I timed it so both bikes needed work at the same time. Oops! I will try not to let that happen again!

Jeff and I did a cold ride this morning around our short loop and found that most of the flooding had disappeared, drained away at low tide. It was nice to be able to get through on the usual roads, but along the beach we had to pick our way through places where the sand and rocks had washed over the road. There were some pretty scary patches of ice, but we made it over them. It's suppose to warm up, so I'm hoping the roads will dry up so I can test out the tuned up road bike. If not, I'll go out on the mtn bike until X6 is back home.

Detour!

We had wind and a ton of rain overnight and part of today. When I ventured out on my bike this afternoon, there was flooding everywhere from small streams and ditches. When I got down to the beaches, I saw that the marsh had filled up with water and the roads were flooded and closed!

Hanging Rocks Road is supposed to be in the center of this picture. You can just see some of the guardrail sticking up here and there. The water was mid-thigh depth and I know this because there was a guy walking through the cold water when I got there. He'd been out running and apparently didn't have time to backtrack the way he had come so he'd taken his shoes and socks off and gone through!!

You can see what the road is supposed to look like in this older pic I posted last spring. It's taken closer to those white signs in the flood pic, but I think you'll see the difference!

There was no way through to Sachuest Point today and the 2nd Beach parking lot was completely submerged in the right of this pic.

I backtracked and did a variation of my usual short loop for 21.16 miles.

Bike TLC

My road bike went to the shop this week for some maintenance. I was expecting to leave it for a few days, but it was there for just 24 hours! That's some good service! My bike got a new chain and cassette and handlebar tape. It also got all the cables and the loose headset tightened and other little tuneups. I can't wait to go for a ride on it, I think it's going to feel like new! It certainly looks like new with that shiny cassette!

I seriously considered actually doing a 'cross race this weekend. I started going through the 'checklist' of what I'd need to do and went over my X6 thinking about taking the bottle cages off, etc. I've known my bike needs a tuneup because of some dodgy shifting, but it's a little more in need than I'd been thinking with brake pads almost down to metal in front and very stretched cables. So, it's not going to happen this weekend, but I am going to do it at some point! The bike shop owner talked with me about it too and really thought I should start in early fall with the training/clinic options. I am going to be serious about practising in '09, even if I have to tie pillows to my body for padding to reduce the bruising =) I really appreciate the encouragement, please don't give up on me, I do want to try it.

When I picked up my road bike last night, I made plans to drop off my X6 so it will be in good shape for the winter riding ahead.

I'd like to figure out how to do some of the maintenance stuff myself, but I don't even have a bike stand yet, so it's easier for me to take it to the mechanics. Besides, it's always fun to have an excuse to stop by the shop to see the new bikes and gear. I was able to get warm covers for my cx shoes last night (and Jeff's too)!

We are having a few soggy days this week. I got out Wednesday morning before the heaviest rain. There was just some light rain at times that didn't really soak through. The wind was something else, really gusty! Today is probably going to be a rest day. It looks like the weather will clear up during the day tomorrow!

A New Challenge for 2009

It's never too early to plan some New Year's resolutions. Thanks to Trio, I have a new goal on the horizon, the

2009 Century a Month Challenge.

I'm going to choose the metric option given how hard it can be to ride any long distance from December-March. Considering I rarely do more than about 40 miles on rides, this challenge will be the push I need to to go further.

I went out to ride today and walked over some snow to get to where I get on my road bike. Well, the snow built up in my cleats and froze up quite solidly. I actually had to call my ride buddy to tell her I would be late to our meet up place because of it. I managed to find a rigid piece of plastic garbage on the side of the road and I chipped away at the ice with that. After that problem was solved, it was a good ride and I did 41.21 miles.

Snow and Sand*

(*Well, most of my ride was on pavement, but I did ride a stretch of snow covered grass and the sands of 2nd beach.)

This morning I was reading blogs and building up motivation to venture out into the cold. I find the blog Up In Alaska is often what sends me out the door with my bike. After seeing the weather she goes out in, really, what do I have to complain about?! Anyway, today I gained motivation from Jill writing the following:

And yet, for all the times I remember reluctantly gearing up and wheeling my bike out into the blah weather, I don't recall a single ride when I came home and thought "I wish that never happened."

I feel the same way. So, keeping that thought in my mind, I bundled up and headed out with my 'cross bike. I snapped a picture as I was having second thoughts in the driveway.

The temps during today's ride ranged from 18-23F with a windchill ranging from 8-15F, one of my coldest rides ever. My Nuun had a block of ice in it within the first 5 miles. My toes felt like ice cubes. I don't have covers for my cx shoes, so I was just in double wool socks. By 10 miles out, my feet were really uncomfortable and I was thinking the rest of the ride was going to be pretty difficult.

But then, coming down the hill at the end of 2nd Beach, I looked down the length of the long, wide beach at low tide and got an idea. Beach Ride Time! I'd never done it before, though I've thought about it for some time. Instantly I forgot about my cold feet and felt perfectly fine out there. I was pretty tentative getting out onto the beach as I really didn't want to fall over in front of people sitting in their cars in the parking lot. They already seemed to think I was pretty insane and falling down would have looked ridiculous. So, I dabbed and picked my way over the deeper softer sand and then got pedaling for real out on the flat, packed sands. Oh, it was sooo fun!!

These two pics were taken in the same spot, first looking one way and then the other.



Would you believe today was my first day on the beach this year?! Hot summer days didn't get me there, but give me a December day with single digit wind chill and I'm out there, apparently!

Here's the frozen water bottle shot. The camera lens was fogging up from suddenly being warm in the house.

I ended up doing 21.36 miles in all and after the first 10 miles managed to stay warm. I probably wouldn't have been cold at all with booties.

Early Christmas Presents!

When the weather isn't so great, I need to focus on some cleaning, maintenance and making sure I have gear I need. Yesterday afternoon I stopped by two bike shops!

I've mentioned my tires a few times lately...can you tell how worn they are in the pic? You may need to see them in person for the full effect. Take my word for it, they have squared off edges!

Visiting Bikeworks Sunday, I was able to get replacement Bontrager Race X-Lites. The water bottles I've used for over a year just went completely plasticky almost overnight, so I got a stash to replace those and was pleased to find Cannondale ones to match my bikes! I am going to try the Tri Berry Nuun. Do you have a favorite Nuun flavor? Also in the picture are some new cleats. I've been a little afraid of pulling out of the pedal with my old worn ones lately. I ordered some replacement handlebar tape which should be available soon. (They didn't have any Cannondale kinds in stock.)

We also went to Providence Bicycle to pick up the PI AmFib tights that were on hold for Jeff. He's going to love those! Of course, I started looking around and noticed this top. I don't normally wear such bright colors, but do on the bike for visibility. It's the PI Symphony Reversible Jersey.

Doesn't everyone love a reflective 'tramp stamp'? =)

This is one of my favorite items now, the shaping is great and it's so comfy! I'll be tempted to wear this one off the bike too.

I made do with a bare minimum of bike clothing for a couple of years and only the tights for winter cycling specific gear, so now that I've stuck with the biking for awhile it's fun to treat myself to some clothes. I do find it helps. I don't have to think about what to wear or worry about whether it will work. It is comfortable while riding and I can just get on with the pedaling, the way it should be.