As I posted last week, I had been planning on riding in the 3 Feet for Pete ride. The date of this ride was 9/14/13 which also happens to be my daughter's birthday. It is also the date when my nephew and niece needed to get to the airport early. To make a long story short, I was babysitting the grandkids instead of riding on Saturday morning.
I didn't mind not riding. Its always fun spending time with the grandkids. We had breakfast together and watched some TV and they played. When my wife and daughter got home, we then got the kids ready and went out for a combined birthday lunch for my daughter and myself.
Now, I didn't ride Friday morning, thinking I was going to ride on Saturday. On Sunday morning I was plan lazy and didn't get out to ride before the temperature shot up into the 90's so I didn't ride then either.
So the weekend was a bust in terms of getting miles in. I did get out this morning and put in 10.4 miles so I'm getting back into the swing of things. I'm planning on riding at least 10 miles per day the next 3 days and then a bit less on Friday as my parents will be here and my dad and I will do a last ride before the Viva Bike Vegas ride on Saturday. This will be a shake down to make sure the bikes are ready for Saturday morning.
So, this morning's ride takes me over the 100 mile mark for the month of September. In fact I'm at 102/2 miles for the month. Not bad, but I have to make up some miles to hit my goal of at least 240.
I hope the rain isn't too bad across the country and you are able to...
GET ON YOUR BIKES AND RIDE!!!!!
Showing posts with label 3 feet for pete. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3 feet for pete. Show all posts
Monday, September 16, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
OK, maybe I am a fair weather cyclist...
When the alarm went off at 3:45 this morning I wasn't ready to get up, but knew it was time. As I struggled awake I heard what sounded like water dripping. I knew they had said there was a possibility of showers overnight, but they've said that before and it hasn't happened. So I decided to check the radar map on my phone to see what was up.
I got on to Accuweather.com and zoomed into the Las Vegas area and lo and behold, there was a swath of greens and yellows across the area. It really was raining this morning. With that confirmation, I reset the alarm, rolled over and went back to sleep for an hour and a half.
When i again awoke at 5:15 I heard a definite steady drumming of rain on the roof, it was pouring at that moment, thus confirming that it would have been a wet ride if I had ventured out.
Now, let me assure you that it wasn't the fact that I might get wet that kept me from riding. To meet my challenge last month I rode in a pretty significant rain as detailed here. What I learned on that rainy ride, is what convinced me that riding in the rain, in the dark wasn't the best of ideas.
You see, when it rains, ones tires and wheels get wet. Then wheels get wet, applied brakes, which rely on friction to stop, don't work nearly as well. in fact one website I saw a while ago estimated their effectiveness at about 40%. (OK, granted they were making a case for disk brakes, but still that number stuck with me). Combine the lessened stopping power with reduced visibility and the propensity of at least one car pulling out in front of me in the mornings and I felt like it might be a recipe for disaster. In this case I think I really made the right call.
So, no miles this morning, but perhaps a ride this evening after dinner might be in order depending on the evening's schedule, but that might not happen as its open house night at my grandsons' school and it will likely be a late dinner. Have to wait and see how the evening unfolds.
As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I am considering riding the 3 feet for Pete ride on Saturday morning. Anyone else interested?
Get on Your Bikes and RIDE, but be safe out there!
I got on to Accuweather.com and zoomed into the Las Vegas area and lo and behold, there was a swath of greens and yellows across the area. It really was raining this morning. With that confirmation, I reset the alarm, rolled over and went back to sleep for an hour and a half.
When i again awoke at 5:15 I heard a definite steady drumming of rain on the roof, it was pouring at that moment, thus confirming that it would have been a wet ride if I had ventured out.
Now, let me assure you that it wasn't the fact that I might get wet that kept me from riding. To meet my challenge last month I rode in a pretty significant rain as detailed here. What I learned on that rainy ride, is what convinced me that riding in the rain, in the dark wasn't the best of ideas.
You see, when it rains, ones tires and wheels get wet. Then wheels get wet, applied brakes, which rely on friction to stop, don't work nearly as well. in fact one website I saw a while ago estimated their effectiveness at about 40%. (OK, granted they were making a case for disk brakes, but still that number stuck with me). Combine the lessened stopping power with reduced visibility and the propensity of at least one car pulling out in front of me in the mornings and I felt like it might be a recipe for disaster. In this case I think I really made the right call.
So, no miles this morning, but perhaps a ride this evening after dinner might be in order depending on the evening's schedule, but that might not happen as its open house night at my grandsons' school and it will likely be a late dinner. Have to wait and see how the evening unfolds.
As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I am considering riding the 3 feet for Pete ride on Saturday morning. Anyone else interested?
Get on Your Bikes and RIDE, but be safe out there!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Another morning, another early ride.
The alarm went off at its usual (of late) 3:45 and I was up and ready in what seemed like record time. A quick perusal of the radar showed possible light showers in the area. When I got downstairs I saw nary a drop, so I decided the ride was a go.
I aired up the tires, turned on my lights and headed out by 4:00. I took it real easy my first lap as we had had a pretty good drenching rain the night before and I knew there was likely to be debris, rocks and sand on the roadway. I was especially worried about the area on Quarterhorse where they are building the new sub. Fortunately my fears weren't truly realized as there was a light coating of sand and not much else on the road.
Once I safely navigated the first lap and found the streets in not bad shape, I started the second lap only to have it start sprinkling on me. I hoped that it wasn't really going to rain. It stopped by the end of the second lap so I felt confident I would get my ride in.
2 laps later it started drizzling and I was seriously starting to think I might have to call it. Its not that I mind the rain so much as I don't feel too safe with wet rims and possible inattentive morning drivers. Most everyone must have been sleeping in this morning, though, since I saw 3 cars all morning. Anyway, the drizzle lasted only 7 minutes or so and was done, having barely wet the roads.
The 3 women I've been seeing on their morning walk/jog/run for the past month or so, were out there again this morning. On lap 8, there was a bit more sprinkles happening and I was seriously thinking of cutting the ride short, but decided I needed to get the full 12 miles in this morning, so I did.
This morning's ride takes me to 79.6 miles so far for the month of September. Seeing as its the 10th, which is 1/3 of the way through the month, and I'm basically 1/3 of the way to my monthly mileage goal of 240 miles I'm feeling very good with my progress and my prospects of hitting my goal.
I found a ride this coming weekend that I think I am going to do. Its called the 3 Feet for Pete ride and its a fun ride to raise awareness for cycling safety. Its named after a local cyclist, Pete Makowski who lost his life June 19th on a training ride. I'm thinking this would be a great cause as well as a way to meet some local cyclists.
Be safe out there and Get On Your Bikes and Ride!!!
I aired up the tires, turned on my lights and headed out by 4:00. I took it real easy my first lap as we had had a pretty good drenching rain the night before and I knew there was likely to be debris, rocks and sand on the roadway. I was especially worried about the area on Quarterhorse where they are building the new sub. Fortunately my fears weren't truly realized as there was a light coating of sand and not much else on the road.
Once I safely navigated the first lap and found the streets in not bad shape, I started the second lap only to have it start sprinkling on me. I hoped that it wasn't really going to rain. It stopped by the end of the second lap so I felt confident I would get my ride in.
2 laps later it started drizzling and I was seriously starting to think I might have to call it. Its not that I mind the rain so much as I don't feel too safe with wet rims and possible inattentive morning drivers. Most everyone must have been sleeping in this morning, though, since I saw 3 cars all morning. Anyway, the drizzle lasted only 7 minutes or so and was done, having barely wet the roads.
The 3 women I've been seeing on their morning walk/jog/run for the past month or so, were out there again this morning. On lap 8, there was a bit more sprinkles happening and I was seriously thinking of cutting the ride short, but decided I needed to get the full 12 miles in this morning, so I did.
This morning's ride takes me to 79.6 miles so far for the month of September. Seeing as its the 10th, which is 1/3 of the way through the month, and I'm basically 1/3 of the way to my monthly mileage goal of 240 miles I'm feeling very good with my progress and my prospects of hitting my goal.
I found a ride this coming weekend that I think I am going to do. Its called the 3 Feet for Pete ride and its a fun ride to raise awareness for cycling safety. Its named after a local cyclist, Pete Makowski who lost his life June 19th on a training ride. I'm thinking this would be a great cause as well as a way to meet some local cyclists.
Be safe out there and Get On Your Bikes and Ride!!!
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