Started CTS 2013 today with a short 21 miles from Renton to South Park and then up Des Moines Memorial Drive to just north of the Seatac Airport.  One highlight was riding right underneath the landing pattern, as well as

Went up a notch from last year to ride with the Green Group at 14 -16 MPH, on the flats and level.  After staying off the bike for much of the winter, it's good to be pushed to get back in bike shape for the rides to come.

Good group to ride with.

Next week, Chilly Hilly 2013, and I registered today.

WTS #2

50 Miles around Camano Island today, all the while wondering when the rain was going to start. The course was advertised as hilly with rollers, and lived up to the billing. We had gone to the Crest the previous night to see Never Let Me Go (great movie, disturbing!), so with the late night and early start, I wasn't in the greatest shape for the ride. And, I'll admit to the classic mistake of waiting until hunger set in to eat, so was gassed in the 2nd half of the ride. Forgot my cue sheets as well, but the ride leaders (Ralph and Carol Nussbaum) had plenty of extras to share. They do a great job with these rides.

Still, the ride was dry, although the headwind at the end was tough, as was the road crud on the side on Hwy 532, but I arrived back at the start before the rain started, which it did as I finished my sandwich and headed for the car.

136 miles YTD, accomplished in the first two weeks of 2011.

More CTS

This week's CTS ride was the Eastside Urban Loop, circumnavigating Bellevue, keeping on the right as we left from Marymoor Park, climbed Newport Hill, and then dropped down via the I-90 trail to Enetai Park, underneath the bridge for the first rest stop.I was sucking wind as we climbed the hill, with chain slipping, falling behind, but caught up eventually.  Same thing happened through Clyde Hill and Yarrow Bay, and it didn't help to miss a couple of the turns that only increased the separation from the rest of the green group.  Maybe I'm a yellow (12-14 mph), the group for the next ride, two weeks from now, Marymoor-Snohomish.  Or, maybe fewer noodles, dumplings and less orange chicken from the Shanghai Garden the night before will result in less ballast.

Ended up at 41.5 miles for the day, 454 YTD.   Next week is the Tacoma Wheelmen's Daffodil Classic.  The group did a great job with the Headwaters Century last fall, and I'll wait to choose between the 4o mile Buckley Loop, and the 60 mile Eatonville circuit, which looks like more of a challenge from both a distance and elevation perspective.

After getting home (lunch, sauna, shower, stretch), took the Lemond over to Gregg's to see about the chain slipping.  Wade took care of an adjustment on a busy Saturday afternoon while I strolled over to Peet's for a coffee.   Great service!

Cascade Training Series 2008 - Part 1

Did the Mercer Island Loop today as part of the CTS 2008.    More participants than last year, many familiar faces, and was better conditioned as well.   We got snow on Friday, and a bit Saturday night as well, so the headwind and the temps had a certain bite to them as we headed down the BGT and Leschi toward the I-90 bridge.

At the rest stop at the ballfields, looking east Tiger Mountain and the Newport Hills were covered with snow!

Circumnavigated MI, returned via the bridge, and the broke off from the crowd to head to Uwajimaya for a big bowl of Won Ton Soup from Noodle Zen, an espresso at Zeitgeist, and then looked in at Safeco Field to watch a bit of Texas Ranger BP.    Up Alaska Way, under the viaduct, passed the OSP, and then out to the Locks before heading home on the BGT.  50 miles today, and about 390 year to date.   Those miles should be piling up now with the weekly rides, and as we finally get some real spring.