Things Are A Little Slow

I worked the last weekend and then it has been raining.  Tomorrow, the weather promises to be good, but, I am working.  I am hoping for fair skies on Thursday.  Friday I am hoping to get in a small ride before the Grandkids get here.  Saturday family fun day and Sunday we will see.
KEEP RIDING!!

Double Play

Another Great August Day

Back to back gorgeous August days.  My legs were not ready for another 71 miles, but I did mange to get in 38 miles.  I also visited my favorite LBS which is always fun.  I picked up some spare tubes and repaired my neighbors flat.  Now, do I commute to work tomorrow?.
KEEP RIDING!!!

Racking Up The Miles

Sandy Hook Bay



Belmar Beach

 It was one of those rare and great August days that you just have to pack on the miles.  Temps low 80's, low humidity and light winds.  I needed something different and long to enjoy this day.  I decided back to the shore for a 71 miler.  This time I checked wind direction and found light winds from the NNW.  It was decided, out to Matawan, then Aberdeen, down the Henry Hudson Trail across the Atlantic Highlands Bridge and south from Sea Bright on down to Manasquan and eventually home.
There is no rushing this long ride.  I chatted with a guy Dan on the trail.  I stopped at the Windmill in Long Branch for a super large tasty hot dog with all the fixings and a large root beer.  Very tasty and hit the spot.  The nice thing about the shore it is very bike friendly with dedicated bike lanes.  There are a great many interesting sites to see.  The bad thing is there is no shade unless you want to stop under a pavilion.  Although a beautiful day, I hit the shore at the height of the heat and it was no cooler.  Once you leave the protection of the shore it is back to cycling on major roads not so bike friendly.
It is a great ride, but something best done in the spring or fall.
KEEP RIDING!!!

Days Gone By

I did my typical ride today of 32 miles.  10 miles out the same direction and then decide if I want to do 25-60 miles.  The reason for this is that I like to ride from my home and this area provides the best cycling area around.  I miss the days when I would head in any direction and follow roads I have never been on.  Sometimes it was a great find with winding, rolling hills and shade trees.  Sometimes it was right into a head wind up a steep hill with traffic.  In either case it was an adventure, never knowing what was around the next bend.  I miss those rides.  Since getting reacquainted with cycling over the past 25 years, I have come to know most roads within a 40 mile radius of my home.
I was talking to an associate of mine the other day.  He said what he like most about biking, was you see things you miss by car, but also have the ability to quickly change scenery that you can't do with walking.  That was one of my hooks that brought me back into cycling.  I remember in the early 80's, buying my blue and white Mongoose mt bike at my LBS for $220.  It was a 18 or 21 speed with thumb shifters. I quickly learned I was not for mt biking.  I replaced the knobby tires with no name slick street tires.  I changed the flat handle bars with ones with a vertical bend for a more upright seating position.  I added fenders, no name rack and panniers and I was feeling the love.  I took that bike everywhere.  I commuted, went to the store, the beach and took it camping.  I don't think in the 15+ years I ever changed the drive chain.  I just aired up the tires and greased the chain and off I went.  It was then that I joined a cycling club and learned proper cycling habits.  I also bought a couple of road bikes, but nothing was like my Mongoose.  I eventually found recumbents and so it goes, but nothing brings a greater smile than the days of exploring untraveled roads.
KEEP RIDING!!!

Just Another Day

I had to run a few errands this morning.  It was a nice enough morning so I did them by bike.  When I finished I decided to continue on for a nice relaxing ride.  Temps in the upper 80's with high humidity and 8-10 mph winds.  With the wind and scattered clouds it turned out to be a pretty nice cycling day.  I manged 29 easy miles and was feeling myself again. I caught up on some much needed rest and was back in the groove.
KEEP RIDING!!!

3,000 Mile Mark

Lunch Stop

Today, in spite of being tired from my last 3 busy days, I managed to get out for a 50 miler.  The weather was warm and sunny with a light breeze.  It was a slow start and my leg muscles were hurting.  I only needed about 20 miles to reach my annual goal of 3k miles.  I was hoping to do more miles and decided to use the wait and see method.  15 miles into the ride I was beginning to feel myself again.  Slow and steady was the attitude of the day.
Last year was an all time best for annual mileage.  I far exceeded my 3k goal and finished with over 5300 miles.  I decided to compare my mileage and number of rides to date with last year.  Last year on August 6th I had 3039 miles with 112 days of riding.  This year I have 3027 miles with 100 days of riding.  It's amazingly close.  It will be interesting to see how the year pans out.
KEEP RIDING!!!

Prince Of A Day



Make A Wish Foundation Castle



Shopping after

Today was like a Fairy Tale Day.  I went out early expecting it to get really hot and humid.  Instead the weather was quite delightful.  It was in the 80's with low humidity and a mild northerly breeze.  Still waiting for the other shoe to drop, I was expecting things to quickly heat up.  That did not happen and I managed a 37 miler wanting more.  Passing that castle being built by The Make A Wish Foundation made me feel more like a kid.  When I got home I had a Honey-Do-List.  I decided to continue my enjoyment by taking my bike another 6.5 miles for the much needed shopping.  I have just come off a great shore weekend with my wife and have a busy next 3 days a head.  I am very grateful for this super cycling day.

KEEP RIDING!!!