Other good reasons to ride a bike

OK, so I was out riding the Fairmont loop with VA and Allan today and came upon some guys cutting down a maple tree.  Free wood a sign said!  I drove back up and the guys helped me load up about 1/2 cord of nice (pretty darn wet) maple.  It won't be ready to split until next August!

Rainy riding, boring blog

We really are riding this November, but mostly with Portland Velo or some short rides on our own.  Yesterday we rode with Velo and I got a flat (rear tire) 4 miles out.  Bummer.  I sent everyone on ahead.  Why does changing a tire with an audience seem much harder?  Anyway, we rode about 40 miles out in the Forest Grove area, a little rain, some sun and A LOT of gravel laid down from last weeks storm.  Craig got his bike out of the truck last night and his rear tire was flat with a through and through slit.  Today we both had to replace our back brake pads.  We're trying all weather brake pads, salmon for wet conditions, made by Kool Stop.  Winter riding is hard on the bike.  My cassette is a mess.  I need a new one anyway - a 11/27 would be a nice change from my 11/25.  The following pictures are on Stringtown Road off Highway 47.

Allan

VA

Craig

Once again Wes from Australia has sent me a link to a good article about Optimizing Tire Pressure For Your Weight.  Interesting enough, it comes via Seattle's Bicycle Quarterly.  Check out the magazine and their blog.  Another great resource.  Thanks Wes.

Today at Washington Park

Down Under

It may be fall here, but in Australia, they are gearing up for spring and summer riding.  Wes sent me a link to the Team Degani 3 Peaks Challenge March 13, 2011.  235 km, 5334 vertical feet of climb.  A UK rider comments on the web site that this course rivals any European Gran Fondo!  Wow.  Seems these Victorian Alps would be the perfect place to do some riding while we're slogging through the cold, wet conditions above the equator.

'That being said', (I tend to overuse that particular voguism to change subjects) we have decided to go back to Spain next June and ride in the Cantabrian Mountains and Picos de Europas (above outlined in red).   Another 'shut up and ride' week.  532 miles, 50,300 feet of gain, 7 days.  Starting near Bilbao, we'll be south of Santander on Day 3 where Lola's family has a house.  Hopefully they can meet us for the night.  

November 13th and NOT 68 degrees

53rd Drive gnome house

VA and I managed to get some good rides in this week, including the MAC Wednesday ride out Terwilliger to River View Cemetery.  The pavement was covered with leaves and we couldn't enjoy the usual fun descent on the marked bike lane through the cemetery down to Macadam.  In addition we were honked at by an irate minivan driver for not using the bike lane on Terwilliger made dangerously un-rideable by fallen leaves.  Catching up to her at a stop light I managed to 'converse' with her about the fact that honking does not help, nor was she going to get to her destination much quicker.

On a good note, Craig's x-ray this week shows healing and he is back biking.  Well, sort of.  He's been going to spin classes in the morning and today we put on all our rain gear and winter clothes, strapped the fenders on and rode about a mile before turning around.  44 degrees, looking through lenses made opaque by a cold mist, we decided that this was not a good day for a first ride status post clavicle fracture.  Allan and VA, however, are out riding with Velo this morning.  Nothing stops them.

Once again, Cycling Tips has some pretty good posts.  Posted this week is a pretty good video, Cycles of Life,  created by a high school kid from Christchurch for his media class.

November 4th and 68 degrees!

Trail bypassing the first tunnel on Cornell

This week we've seen fall riding at it's best; fantastic weather with temps in the high 60's. This weekend the forecast calls for rain with snow levels dropping down to the 2500 foot level.  A bit hard to believe after riding with the MAC coaches yesterday in near 70 degree weather (they have started Wednesday noon rides!) and then today a nice ride downtown for lunch with Craig, home via Cornell to 53rd and up to Skyline via Thompson.  I planned on going home, but took a little detour when a group of guys, one of whom I know from the MAC rides, were headed out Skyline.  It was too nice a day to quit and I was able to join their pace line to Skyline Elementary. Their pace too brisk for me to keep on, I turned down Kaiser headed toward Old Germantown where my front tire was flatted by a big piece of glass.  The bad part is I forgot that my tools were with my rain bike at home.  Luckily another rider came along and loaned me his and I was on my way.  A good reminder to always make sure you have enough gear to change a tire before you go out.

A cute pumphouse spotted off 53rd

The view up 53rd