New Year!

Last day of 2011, but first ride after Winter Solstice and 6 weeks off the bike, for holidays, sick, tired, recovering, antibiotics and reaction thereto. 26 miles on the familiar Magnolia Loop, now upgraded with the extension of the Ship Canal Trail under the Ballard Bridge. Took things nice and slow, and the Bleriot performed well after the annual tune at EBB.

Saw another Rivendell, a Rambouillet, and then met up with Russ from the loosely formed Seattle Rivendell Riders group for the last few miles up the BGT. We pledged to make some of those rides happen again soon, another great resolution for 2012!

Chilly Hilly 2011

42 miles, and 324 to date this year, after a Chilly Hilly that lived up to its name. It's been snowing and cold this week, causing the Learning Factory to delay classes, among other things. Still, I had committed to doing the CH again this year, bought my ticket and was going to go, come hell or high water, despite the cold and the snow.

Missed the first ferry by about 15 minutes, so waited at Colman Dock for about a half hour in the cold, and that may have been my first mistake, if the first wasn't deciding to do this! Temperature in the mid 30's, stiff south wind blowing off the water, and I tightened up plus added nasal and lung congestion to the mix, and never really got through that.

The south wind propelled us up the east side of Bainbridge, heading north, and made that part easy. There just weren't as many riders as in year's past, and the nasty weather is sure what held down the numbers. Still, it's the Chilly Hilly, so many riders were out of shape, riding several abreast, many kids and parents riding, and the Bainbridge Islanders do a good job of turning out and providing encouragement.

Once you reach the north end of the island, the route turns to the west and then heads south, directly into the cold wind, now augmented by what the weather forecasters love to label a 'wintry mix,' cold rain and snow. By the time I arrived at Battle Point Park for the Bainbridge Rope Skippers food stop, I was hacking and cold, and made the decision to take the short-cut at the next stop, the American Legion Cider Stop, cutting about ten miles off the loop.

At the ferry dock, I ran into the only other Rivendellian I saw all day, Rob with the Rambouillet from Wallingford. Rob had caught the early boat, as had been planned, but reported that he hadn't seen the others, despite all of our best intentions. Given the cold and the rain on the way back home, no one can blame them!

Can't wait for warmer weather!

Winter Training Series #1

Rode 40 miles with the Seattle Randonneurs in their Winter Training Series, co-sponsored by Cascade Bike Club, on a chilly and damp morning. The
loop started at Sammamish Valley Cycles in Redmond, went south on E. Lake Sammamish Pkwy, up to the Plateau, and then out to Carnation. The meteorologists threatened snow showers throughout the day, but all we got was a bit of drizzle during the descent into the Snoqualmie Valley. We returned past the historic Carnation Farm, via Union Hill Road. Many of the Randonneurs were on their first rides of the year after an extended lay off. But, that didn't stop them from leaving me behind and causing me to miss the promised cider and cookies at the finish, probably due to my normal strategy of stopping to take pictures, a tune-up at SBux, and various lolly-gagging on the hills.

Good ride, good group to ride with, lots of classic cycles (including plenty of Rivendells!) and friendly folks.

Day After Thanksgiving Rivendell Ride

Thanks to Rob for organizing the Day After Thanksgiving Rivendell Ride. About ten of us met up at Zoka U-Village for coffee and decision to go north (oops, south, then west) on the BGT for a loop.

The trail was a bit slushy, given the Arctic Blast earlier in the week, and then the melting rain that fell overnight. All seemed well and we were settling into a groove when we came upon a down rider just west of Brooklyn Avenue. Apparently, he had slipped on a metal post hole cover, went over the handlebars, and hit his head on the pavement. The rider came to before the medics arrived, but was taken away on a stretcher in an aid car.

We resolved to ride carefully thereafter, not that we hadn't been before.

Our route took us west to Golden Gardens, up to Loyal Heights, west to Green Lake, and then to our various directions. Good group to ride with, and I look forward to more with the Seattle Rivendelicatessans in the future.

Rob's take on the adventure is here.

Boxing Day Ride

The taggers celebrate the holiday in Loyal Heights!

Took a short (22.9-mile) loop out to Golden Gardens on Boxing Day to test out the new equipment and the old legs. The new shoes worked well, and after 4 years with the last pair, they represent a reasonable replacement after I got full use from the old ones. Less satisfied with new pump, too short for the frame and so I get to check Rivendell's replacement policy for that unit as well as the bike bag which is simply too small to justify the price.

So far in the past six months, the log totals 1,267 miles per the Garmin, and I'll probably finish the year with a bit more, given the weather forecast of dry, clear and cold for the remaining days of 2009.

The sundial indicated noon on the return on BGT at the U of W. We've passed the solstice, and now the days are getting longer!

Another Satisfied Customer

President Jimmy Carter rides a Rivendell!

No STP - Hilly, Not Chilly

No STP for me this year. Last week's SF trip and the resulting catch-up at the Learning Factory, plus booking the Brown Dog at the Spa made that out of the question.

Instead, I got my STP fix by volunteering at the Packet Pickup at REI yesterday, after Bob made a few minor adjustments to the New Ride.

This morning, I took off for Bainbridge Island to ride an Unchilly Hilly, the same route from February but under considerably brighter skies and with much warmer temps. Spectacular scenery made me once again appreciate all that this area has to offer, especially on one of those crystal-clear North Wind summer days.

Upon the return and a refueling at Zeitgeist in Pioneer Square, I strolled through the Fire Festival, then out to the Locks and back home via BGT. 86 glorious degrees at U-Village at 530 p.m. 60.3 miles. New ride is great. Time to sell the Lemond?

New Ride!

So, here it is. Rivendell Bleriot 55 cm frame. Nitto bars and stems. Sugino crank. Velocity wheels and 650B Tires (38 CM!). Speedplay Frog pedals. Dia Compe brakes. Brooks leather saddle. Bob F. did a great job of assembly, with lots of little personal touches. Ride is butter smooth.


20 mile shake down ride this p.m., out to Locks and back. Compared to the Lemond, hills are easier with the wide spectrum of gears on rear cassette. Cornering and handling much smoother with the wider tires, and the Bleriot just glides well.

Yum!

New Wheels?

So, the bug has been there for a while...Lately I've been thinking about more commuting via bike, and have good reason to do so. The Surly LHT caught my eye at Free Range Cycles, where Kathleen let me ride one, along with a Salsa Casseroll and a Cross Check. LHT was the smoothest ride, widest gear range, important for a crummy hill climber like yours truly, and seemed the best fit for a winter bike, suitable for commuting, capable of racks and fenders, and good to go, right off the rack.

But, still, something was just not exactly perfect. And, since I wanted just exactly perfect, I cruised down to Elliott Bay Bicycles, and talked to Bob. The Rivendells are beautiful frames. Lugged, well-built to last, painted exquisitely. EBB had a 55 cm Bleriot, named for the French Aviator, Louis Bleriot, in stock, so we added the wheels, and it fit fine. Worked up a parts list to my specs, and now it's being built!

My father's day present to me. I can't wait!