this weekend has been full of it. Thanks to Dale my fund raising has now topped $3,000. Dale, I take back every mean crack about you on this blog. Yesterday Mary-Claire passed her driving test so now she's legal, and Oxford won the University Boat Race very comfortably. To cap it all our friend Natasha arrived from Bonny Dundee for a visit.
A busy cycling weekend. I rode Terry Hershey yesterday morning and today was the Bluebonnet Express. I rode the 48 mile route and was glad I didn't try any of the longer options, because it was once again very windy. A good ride nonetheless.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday for riding
Back in Houston after three days in Rockport (M-C's Spring Break) trying to stay upright in 20+ knot winds. A mid-morning ride on Terry Hershey today. Quite busy and breezy but still a good ride. I saw no fewer than 4 riders talking on cellphones while riding - I told each one to "Hang up and ride", with no obvious effect. I also saw two BHP buddies so it was quite a social run.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
an ill wind?
We should have started the MS150 today - there was a strong wind out of the east all morning, we'd have made it to Austin in record time. I settled for the Terry Hershey/Bear Creek loop instead. I was flying all the way out to Fry road but then had to turn back into the wind and struggled a bit.
I was glad to be riding at all today. My road bike went under the knife last week for major open bottom-bracket surgery. I noticed that the cranks had a bit of lateral play - didn't seem like much but it turned out I needed a new bottom bracket. She came through with flying colours but it was a bit touch and go - they couldn't get the bracket apart and had to jury-rig a big cheater bar. It tore up the retaining cup but they were able to replace it and she's as good as new (well, as good as you can expect for a 25 year old bike). Certainly she rode very well today.
I was glad to be riding at all today. My road bike went under the knife last week for major open bottom-bracket surgery. I noticed that the cranks had a bit of lateral play - didn't seem like much but it turned out I needed a new bottom bracket. She came through with flying colours but it was a bit touch and go - they couldn't get the bracket apart and had to jury-rig a big cheater bar. It tore up the retaining cup but they were able to replace it and she's as good as new (well, as good as you can expect for a 25 year old bike). Certainly she rode very well today.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
'twas a dark and misty morning...
.. not quite what Snoopy wrote but more accurate today. Quite a lot of mist hanging around, and with the recent arrival of Daylight Savings Time it's pitch dark when I start my ride (how does that work again?). Very nice riding when the sun finally rose, though.
Monday, March 10, 2008
careful what you wish for - you may get it
I had been complaining about not enough time in the hills - not any more, after yesterday. It was a busy cycling weekend. BHP held a cycling safety clinic on Saturady morning, and one of our guys led a ride through Houston (advertised as an "Urban Assault Ride"!) before the clinic. The ride was very enjoyable but we went quite slowly, as there was a large group and only one of us knew the route. Every other light we hit Downtown was red, which didn't help. Sunday morning found me up at the crack to drive 50 miles for a 47 mile ride. The clocks went forward so it was a very short night. The ride was though very pretty countryside in Montgomery county, including a section through Sam Houston National forest, and it was a pleasant, sunny morning, but quite windy, and rolling terrain all the way, so I got my wish!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
I spoke too soon -
Harbingers of Spring? We've had January temperatures all week and it's going to stay that way - a good 10 degrees below normal. This lead to some frozen extremities on the ride today, because I took my socks out of the dryer a moment too soon, and left one of my cycling gloves at the office yesterday. Rather than ride a la Michael Jackson with just one glove, I sacrificed comfort for style and toughed it out bare-handed.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
traffic city
Woke up to a gorgeous spring morning. Susan and I had breakfast on the patio and then I saddled up to ride Terry Hershey. Predictably heavy traffic in the park but a lot of cyclists in George Bush, too, so I decided to return via Cullen park and Bear Creek instead. Less traffic on the trails but of course I had to ride on some pretty busy roads. A good wind out of the south slowed me down on some stretches but overall a very good ride. 30% chance of rain tomorrow so I was glad to get my ride in today.
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