Awesome Ride!

Yesterday, Joe, Jackie, and me woke up at 6 AM to do the Tacoma Wheelmen's Annual Peninsula Metric Bicycle Ride in Kitsap County. On our way to the ride, which started in Gig Harbor, we stopped at Starbucks and ordered their delicious English muffin breakfast sandwich and mochas. We arrived at the start at 7:45 AM. We registered, got on our bikes, and began our ride.

It was a beautiful morning. The sun was out the sky was blue. The weather report for the day was HOT! The first 17 miles of the ride were wonderful because the route was along shady tree lined country roads. Plus the early morning air was still nice and cool. It would have been a perfect start except for a bee that hit Jackie's helmet and got stuck in it not 3 miles into the ride. It stung her. She was a real trooper and continued on. After a while she felt better. Lucky thing she is not allergic to bees. Usually I am the one who gets stung. And then there was the crazy squirrel! Jackie and I were coming down a steep hill and a squirrel ran out onto the road. It does this twitchy back and forth dance, like it can't decide which way to go before it finally darts off towards the left side of the road. Jackie and I were both scared that one of us would hit it and crash. It was sort of funny and scary at the same time. But anyway we arrived safely at our first rest stop at the Southworth Ferry and enjoyed watermelon, oranges, all sorts of cookies, bagels, peanut butter, jelly, potatoes with Johnny seasoning (need that salt), water, gatore aide, and so much more. The people working the rest stop were friendly and helpful.

Refreshed we set off for the next leg of the route, which followed the shoreline and offered us magnificient views of the sound! On this section of the ride I saw two bald eagles, herons, boats, and a fisherman hip deep in the sound casting for fish. The air coming off the water was refreshingly cold. It felt wonderful! But soon our ride turned inland and the HILLS appeared! Steep roller coaster hills! Up and down. Each one steeper then the last one! We would pedal up one hill, sweat dripping down our noses and backs, wishing we were at the crest, when we finally did reach the top of a hill our relief was short lived because waiting for us was another HILL! Finally, after climbing what seemed like a hundred hills we rolled into the second rest stop dripping wet from our climbs. Yes, the Kitsap peninsula is notorious for hills! If you want to train for any kind of mountain or climbing event I would say ride the Gig Harbor area for some great hill training!

We stayed at this rest stop a good 30 minutes sitting underneath a shady tree and taking in food and liquids. Finally we decided to move on and began the third leg of the route. The next rest stop was only 13 miles away. But the heat was beginning to take it's toll. I have been riding after work, two or three times a week, for the last month but Joe and Jackie have not. So the hills and heat were really starting to get to them. About 6 miles away from the last rest stop they bonked badly. Luckily a sagwagon went by and offered to take both Jackie and Joe to the next rest stop while I continued on alone. My legs felt great, I felt great, I finished the last 6 miles and 4 steep hill climbs in record time, beating Joe, Jackie, and the sagwagon to the rest stop! I passed them as they stopped to help a cyclist with a flat tire!

The course we were on was a 68 mile course. Joe and Jackie told me that they just could not finish. So Joe asked the guy driving the sagwagon to take him back to the start so that he could pick up the truck and come back and get Jackie, me, and our bikes. I was happy. I got 52 miles in and Joe and Jackie got 46 miles. They did awesome for not riding in such a long time.

On our drive home we stopped at Burger Kings for burgers and fries, then we stopped for ice cream cones. When we finally arrived home we put the bikes away, showered and crashed. The ride, heat, and hills took it's toll. I did get a little too much sun on my shoulders but other than that I feel great. Joe and Jackie felt great this morning too! We all agreed that the ride was a lot of fun!

Here are a few pictures of yesterday's ride . . . .

Pictures of Joe, Jackie, and me riding the Peninsula Metric

As you can see it was a great ride!

Two Good Days

On Tuesday the weather was great. After work it was in the mid 80s. When I got home I changed quickly into my cycling clothes, grabbed my road bike and headed out the garage for a 30 mile ride. On Wednesday it was cooler, only in the 70s, my daughter talked me into climbing Mount Peak. That is one hellacious hike! It's very very very verticle! Climbers preparing for Mount Rainier climbs or summer hiking come here to begin their fitness program. If that climb doesn't kill your legs nothing will. Great for getting the old legs back in shape. And great for your cardiovascular system. I was huffing and puffing one minute into the climb. You start climbing the moment your feet hit the trail! And the pay off, the most fantastic view from on top. I'll have to take my camera along next time. But that's extra weight . . . hmmmmm. LOL And the descent is just as hard. You are constantly braking and fighting gravity. Quite the workout! I will add this into my fitness regime. One day road cycling, one day climbing, and one day mountain biking. I should be fit as a fiddle by July!

30 Mile Ride

Today Joe and I left our house a little past 10:00 AM for a road ride. We headed down the long winding hill behind Sky Island into the Orting Valley. We rode through Orting and headed towards South Prairie where, at a little over 18 miles, we stopped at a coffee stand for mochas and cookies. We parked our bikes in the bike stand and sat underneath a nice shady gazeebo and enjoyed our drinks and cookies. Refreshed we got back on our bikes and began the long long winding climb out of the valley back to the top of hill. We had a terrible headwind for the fist 18 miles but once we crested the hill it seemed to die down a bit. But when we turned onto Old Sumner Buckley Hwy it was waiting for us! Undaunted we cycled on and returned home tired but very happy that we got a nice 30 miler in this afternoon.

Busy But Riding . . . Beautiful Weather!

Although I have not been posting I have been riding! I participated in the 4 Hours of Adrenalin Mountain Bike event on April 29, 2007, went out on an awesome mountain bike ride with hubby and friend last Saturday, and I have been riding my road bike after work all week long. This last week has been absolutely picture perfect as far as the weather and too nice not to ride. Here is a link of my recent rides:

http://www.cyclingaddict.net/daily_pictures.html

Fun fun fun!

After work reward

It was so hard going to work this morning. The sun was out and shining brightly. The sky was the most brilliant blue. A perfect cycling day was forming but alas, I had to go to work. The hours at work just dragged. I would look out a window and think how much fun it would be to be on my bike enjoying this day. Finally 2:30 arrived. Quickly I shut down my computer, turned off my lights, locked my door and ran out the door. I drove home, dressed into my cycling clothes, opened the garage door and got my bike off it's rack. I checked my tire pressure, put lube on my chain, clipped in and off I went. I had a great ride. Wow, two rides in two days! I don't think three days in a row is going to mesh out. The weather man says rain tomorrow. Leave it to him to ruin a good thing! But to make up for it, he predicts a great weekend!

What a Day!

It was a typical spring day. It began with clouds, mist, and the temperature a tad bit chilly. But as the day went on the weather improved . . . and changed continually throughout the day. When I first woke I looked out the window and thought to myself what an ugly day to ride. So I hung around the house, went to the store, came back, when my husband and daughter got up we went out for coffee, came back, hubby had work he had to do, daughter had things to do so I went on the computer for a bit. As I was typing something to my friend I looked out the window and noticed breaks in the clouds. Blue sky showing through and the sun appearing. I decided right then to ride the Daffodil Classic straight from my house!

It was 1:30 when I left my driveway. I picked up the upper loop of the Daffodil Classic about a half a mile from my home and headed down into Orting, about 12 miles away. I arrived in Orting, which is the start of the ride, and was amazed at all the cyclists in town. And the weather just kept getting better and better. The sign in was closed. Oh well, I guess I would just ride and enjoy the day. Most people were finishing up and here I was just starting. But the weather at 1:30 was a lot more pleasant than it was at 7:30.

Enthusiastically, I continued on. I left Orting and headed towards South Prairie and then up the STEEP climb into Buckley. At mile 25 I was famished. Only bringing water I decided to stop at Wally's Drive In and ordered a hamburger and ice tea. That burger was delicious! It was the best burger I have ever had! Refreshed and feeling much better I got back on my bike and pedaled through beautiful farm country. Passing pastures full of cows grazing contentedly and meadow larks flying and singing cheerfully. Finally, I was at the edge of Bonney Lake and soon would be near my neighborhood. I did a little loop around a peninsula and watched quads racing in the muddy bottom of Lake Tapps. In another month it will be full of water again for the summer season. Finally, I was home. I'm glad I decided to go out and ride. It was one of best rides I have had this year. I slept soundly last night. I'm looking forward to more rides just like the one I just had. I rank this ride A++++

Wet, Windy, and Cold

On Saturday my daughter and I drove up to La Conner, WA to ride in the 26th annual Tulip Pedal. I did this ride in 2004 on a beautiful sunny, warm, mild spring day. This year was the exact opposite. It was cold, wet, and windy. Because of the weather we decided to ride the 20 mile route instead of the 40. I got sprayed by a semi and was covered with water and road silt. But the tulips were beautiful and once we started pedaling we began to warm up. I must admit it wasn't the most fun ride I had but we did have a good time. Hopefully next year it will be nice just like the ride I did in 2004.

Weekend Outlook

It's Wednesday morning and I just finished watching the morning weather forecast for the rest of this week and it doesn't look good. But I've learned a long time ago that the weather here in the Seattle area can change on a dime. I've seen predictions of raining all day turn into a day of sun breaks and vice a versa. So I am keeping a positive outlook for Saturday because it is the annual Tulip Pedal up in La Conner. I have done this ride only once in 2004 and that year the weather was absolutely gorgeous! Sunny and warm with clear blue skies and the colors of the tulips were stunningly brilliant! Proof . . . here's a picture . . .

I just hope it will be nice again this year. In 2004 only my hubby and I did the ride. This year it will be my hubby, our daughter, and me!

They offer two routes. A 20 mile and a 40 mile. In 2004 Joe and I did the 40 mile loop and it was beautiful. However, with so little riding this winter and spring I'm thinking the 40 may be too much?! I believe I can ride it but I'm not sure about hubby and daughter.

I guess we'll just have to see how this weekend meshes out. So stay tuned . . .

Nine Days Without a Ride

After work on Friday, March 30th Joe and I flew to Pittsburgh for my Dad's 90th birthday party. It was great seeing Dad and Mom and all my sisters, brother, cousins, and family and friends. My Dad looks so good! The things he has lived through! The stories he tells! At 90 he is still so full of life. He is active and his mind is still as sharp as a tack. I only wish I will be just as good when and if I should ever reach 90. My sisters fed me so much food. I think I gained 10 pounds! I got to eat all my favorite foods but could not find a good cup of coffee! I've become a coffee addict since moving here and Starbuck's sumatra is my favorite. But I some how managed. Finally on Wednesday, we flew back to Seattle. I had one day of rest (if you call doing laundry all day long rest) before driving over to Cheney and Eastern Washington University to visit my son. Joe and I spent all day Friday and Saturday with him. We saw the movie "Grindhouse" went out to lunch and dinner, walked through a park and went shopping in the malls. This morning a little after 8 AM Joe and I drove back home. And tomorrow I go back to work. So I went nine days without riding either of my bikes. Sigh . . . but for my Dad and my son that's ok. But now I'm back and the weather is getting nicer and nicer. Summer will be here and when school is out for summer break I am going to get up early every single weekday and get on my bike and ride. Oh I can't wait!

I can barely keep my eyes open. I am so tired but I just had to write something here before I crash. And crash I mostly certainly will do. I have never felt so tired. I'm probably babbling but that's ok. I will read this tomorrow and laugh. I had a great nine days, I'm looking forward to a great spring and summer. Here's to all the tomorrows!

Good night!

Just Hubby, Me and Our Bikes

Well, I did not get my road ride in this weekend. Not after Saturday's torrential down pour! But my husband and I did go mountain biking on Sunday. The rain finally stopped and the sun started to break through. By late afternoon it was gorgeous! But back to our ride yesterday morning/afternoon. The trails were muddy. And that is an understatement! We crossed "lakes" that are usually "puddles" . . . but we had fun! We met a friend on the trail and the three of us had a great ride. And of course this morning, Monday morning, the sun is shining and the birds are singing, a perfect day for a road ride but I have to go to work. Sigh. Why is it, weekends always seem to be bad weather days? And come Monday morning the sun pops out and the weather is beautiful? A cruel spring joke by Mother Nature! Ha ha . . . and just my luck this coming weekend will be beautiful because I will be out of town. Just you watch!

Sad In Seattle

Last Friday, March 16th, was the last decent weather day here in the wonderful pacific northwest. Since last Friday our weather has gone down hill. I mean it has literally deteriorated! It's raining!!!! All forms and types . . . misty rain, steady rain, off and on rain, pouring rain, fog and rain, you get the picture. I guess I should not be surprised (taking in the fact of where I live) but if I don't get another sunny day like last Friday's very soon I'm going to scream! Just venting. But not all is lost. Yea, I can't ride my road bike but I can ride my mountain bike. Rain and mud are good things when I am mountain biking! Makes me feel like a kid! But bad things for road cycling. You see, I have this event in June that I want to ride in and I need to increase my miles until I can ride 100 by June 9th! At this rate I am wondering if I will be able to do the 50 mile course. Hopefully April will bring better weather but that saying "April Showers . . . " looms in the back of my mind.

Spring has sprung!

I can tell it's spring here in the pacific northwest. Lots of rain, sun breaks, rain, sun breaks, rain . . . you get the picture. Being a cyclist in this area in the spring time you have to be an oportunist, ride when you can and know that summer is coming with gorgeous days ahead.

My daughter and I have been meeting after work for some great rides in the afternoon. Oh and I can't do the STP this year. My niece is getting married on the same weekend as the road event. Oh well, that's life. There are other rides that I will be riding in this summer. In fact my first ride of 2007 will be the beautiful Tulip Pedal in Skagit County Washington. It's on April 14, 2007 this year. It will be great. Hubby and I did it in 2004 and now this year it will be hubby, our daughter, and me. Can't wait.

My work is cut out for me!

I signed up to do the 2007 STP, Seattle to Portland Bicycle Ride this July 14th and 15th. It's a 204 mile ride starting at the University of Washington in Seattle and ending in Portland, Oregon. So I guess my work is cut out for me. I hope to begin my serious training the end of February/first of March. The weather here in the pacific northwest has been, putting it mildly, crappy! Since November we have had flooding, ice storms, snow, and high winds that had me without power for four whole days! It is a bad winter for cycling. But I have a positive out look and believe, fingers and toes crossed, that by March all this bad weather will pass and at least the weekends will be nice!

I've created a training "calendar" and hope to stick to it. My training calendar begins the first weekend in March. Until then I will try and get rides in on nice days. On bad days I will hit the gym and do some spinning. Every little bit helps.

So here's to goals, rides, and a great season!

These Ladies Can Mountain Bike!

You have to watch their videos! They are great!



Speedy Beaver Racing

You Know You're From . . .

You Know You're From Seattle When...

You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown, and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian You feel guilty throwing an aluminum can in the trash. You use the words "sun break" and know what it means. You know more than 10 words to describe a cup of coffee. You know what a dry cappachino is. You obey all traffic laws EXCEPT "keep right except to pass." You know at least eight people who work for either Microsoft or Boeing. You invite twice as many people as you really want to a party since only half will actually show up. You know what Lutefiske is. You personally know someone from Alaska. You consider floating bridges a pain in the butt, not an engineering marvel. You know how to pronounce "Sequim", "Puyallup" and "Issaquah." You have roots in Oregon, Idaho or Montana, but wanted a high paying job. You've tried to get a job in Alaska, especially a summer job only. You think skiing always means being covered from head to toe, on snow or water. You know at least three Microsoft burnouts, of which two are millionaires. You use more than 5 words to order a cup of coffee. "I want to order an unleaded, double, short, skinny, wet cappuccino with a shot of Amaretto please." A "designer" wardrobe comes from REI, Eddie Bauer, Lands End, and Birkenstock. You consider it a sunny day if the sun is visible at some point of the day. You've been "snow" skiing in the RAIN more than in the snow. When you're discussing rainforests and volcanoes, you're NOT talking about Hawaii. You Remember the Kingdome You have tried to forget about WTO You know how BLUE the skies are here compared to Eastern Washington The guy at 8:30 am at Starbucks wearing the baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like Phyllis Diller is really a trans named Eva Destruction that used to play with Hole. Your car insurance costs more because your neighbors don't have any! Your mayor is straight, 1/2 your friends are gay, the man who delivers your mail has a bumper sticker that reads "when they pry it from my cold dead fingers....", and your Burger World drive thru order taker was a computer millionaire last week. You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Seattle.

Get Your Own "You Know You're From" Meme Here



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20th Annual Bike Festival Winthrop, WA

Joe and I went to the annual bike festival over in Winthrop this past weekend. We arrived on Friday afternoon October 6th and returned on Monday October 9th. We had an awesome time! We signed up for the Buck Mountain mountain bike ride, thirty one miles of cross country riding with a lot of up hill climbing and downhill fun! At around 15 miles into the ride we arrived at Buck Lake where a wonderful lunch awaited all riders. Refreshed we finished the last 15 miles and headed for our cabin and the hot tub out on the deck overlooking the Chewuck River. We had a full moon on the 7th and the sky was a clear crystal chilly star filled night. On Sunday Joe and I just relaxed and enjoyed the races on top of Sun Mountain, sight seeing through the town, and eating homemade pumpkin ice cream. It was hard coming home.

Catching Up

I have not posted in over two weeks and thought I would catch up today. On Saturday, September 16th I led a mountain bike ride at Lake Sawyer. Fourteen people showed up for my ride. It was a beautiful warm fall day. Saturday, September 23rd Joe and I participated in a road event called the Emerald City Lights Bike Ride. It was for a very good cause. To raise money and food to feed families in need during Thanksgiving. We rode with Jim and the day was gorgeous! The trees in the park when we first arrived were red and the morning sun was streaming down through them. The ride was beautiful. Scenery fantastic and the ride hilly, challenging, but fun!

Poker Run at Dash Point . . . Super!

Yesterday, Joe and I did the Poker Run at Dash Point State Park with our friend Jim. We had a great time! We ran into a lot of friends on the trail and after the ride; friends we have not seen since my foot surgery. After the ride we stayed for the hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies, brownies and festivities! There was a huffy toss, limbo game, bunny hop contest, and a stunt jump for the more advanced riders to show us what they got! Joe, Jim, and I did not have great poker hands so we did not win anything there. But the three of us did get something from the raffle drawing! The weather was perfect fall weather. Blue clear skies, 70 degree temperature, and low humidity. I would give this day an A+!!!!! Hope to see more days like this one through October!

Great weekend!

Yesterday Joe and I had a great mountain bike ride. We rode at a nearby favorite spot with a good friend. The day felt like a fall day. The sky was a clear blue, the sun was warm but not hot like a summer sun, the shadows were long, the air was crisp and the day made the ride that much more pleasurable. We began at 10 AM and finished a little after 2 PM. After our ride we hung around for the longest time just chatting, enjoying the day, the company, and reliving the ride. Today Joe and I did a wonderful road ride right out our front door! The weather today was a repeat of yesterday's. We rode down our block past the park and boat launch and followed the lake for a mile before turning onto tree lined streets. It's days like these that make life's best memories. Oh how I hate to see this weekend come to an end.

Great Weekend!

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were great days because I rode my bikes on all three days! On Friday I met Kim D. and Amber W. for a road ride. We started at 3:00 PM and did 19.2 miles. On Saturday, Joe and two friends of ours, Jim and Tony, went on a mountain bike ride at Lake Sawyer. It was my first mountain bike ride since my surgery in December. So seven months ago! WOW! Finally on Sunday Joe and I did a road ride from our house to Buckley and back. We got a little over 24 miles in. I'm a little stiff this morning from my three day biking episode but I'm happy! I think I will pay for it soon, I have to meet my trainer at 10 AM this morning for some weight training! Oh no!