Lone Granger

Knowing I was going to a happy hour Friday night, I went on the Mamma Jamma training ride on Sunday, even volunteered to float as a ride leader.
Had my fuel from Mi Victoria (2 tacos, a huge eclaire & a coke) was ready for the 46 mile ride in new territory.
It had rained an inch or so the night before, so the morning was on the cool side, a bit humid but cool. I started in the middle of the pack, but we soon lost the front group, then was passed by a group doing the 65 mile route, so I followed them.
I knew we had to take a different turn, but I missed it, so I met up w/ Elaina & we figured out where we were, & set out to get back on track.
There were so many dead toads on the road, at least 100 of them, many on their backs, they looked to be smaller than normal, I guess they hopped to the road to escape the flooded fields only to meet a tire. Also saw a dead turtle, snake & a bird, but mostly toads, so sad.

It was a really interesting time of year to ride, some fields were freshly tilled, others just harvested and others waiting to be harvested. Then we came to a field that was full of cactus and another area that was forested. But they all had one thing in common, mud & lots of it & sadly a few less toads.

A field of something, still 'growing'

Cotton ready to be picked.

The love Shack amongst a field that was recently harvested or tilled.

A Texas Barn.

A canopy of trees.

I also realized at the rest stop that I hit 1000 miles on my road bike for the year! woo hoo!



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Total miles for this ride: 52 (longest of the year so far)
Total miles for the month of August: 226.26
Total miles for 2012: 1674.37
Miles to go: 337.63   miles til 2012
One way commutes in August so far: 6
Total one way commutes: 56 (I've reached my goal)
Odometer
Road: 12860
Cross: 630.9

Dripping to Johnson

I was so excited for the Mamma Jamma training ride on Saturday, it started in Dripping Springs and went to Johnson City. Last time I rode in Dripping it was a bunch of fun rolling hills and beautiful Texas Hill Country. I knew this ride would be similar and it didn't disappoint.

Wheels down at 7:30, the 50 mile rout was announced and Larry said, "If you have not riden 40 miles or more in the last month or so I strongly encourage you to NOT do the 50 mile option." I just laughed as I went moved to the front to be one of the ride leaders, because so far my longest ride this summer has been 35 and that was last weekend, prior to that I've only gone over 40 once this year back in March. :-)

It was kinda chilly for a summer morning, but it quickly heated up. The first 8 miles were along a creek, lots of trees, ranch land & houses, even a few barns. Then we had to ride on US 290, only the 3rd time I've been on 290 west on a bike & it isn't much fun, but the cars were respectful and 3/4 of a mile later we were off & hitting the hills on the way to Pedernales State Park.

Love bike shadows.

One of the thing I noticed was once you reached the top of a hill, you actually had a view and you could see for a few miles.

Made it to the intersection where one turns to go to Pedernales Falls, took a quick break to refill the water bottles thanks to SAG support provided by one of the beneficiaries of the Mamma Jamma Ride.

From there only 6 more miles into Johnson City. Once I crossed over Miller Creek which 290 & 281 cross over before Johnson City, I knew I had to be close, plus I could see a water tower. Amazingly Kristen & Victor were still in Johnson City, they were talking to a ldy who coordinates the tri they are doing in September, so Leslie & I took off to get a head start. It took them until the Pedernales Falls intersection to catch us.

On the way back we saw that we were gaining on riders in front of us & it reminded me of the blog Chaising Mailboxes where the lady thought she was gaining on a rider and it turned out to be a mailbox! Love it!

It's hard to see the mailboxes (riders) up ahead, but they are there.

Leslie making it up the big hill!

By now it was hot and we were back to 290, we only got honked at once, I can never tell if the long honk is friendly or angry.

Finishing up along the creek.

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Total miles for this ride: 50.65 (longest of the year so far)
Total miles for the month of August:
Total miles for 2012: 1583.52
Miles to go: 428.48   miles til 2012
One way commutes in August so far: 2
Total one way commutes: 52 (I've reached my goal)
Odometer
Road: 12808
Cross: 592

July Totals

For taking a week off of riding, these are pretty decent totals.
I think I will reach 2012 miles by the end of the year with no problem, especially since I'll easily do 450 miles in October!
Riding excitement!


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Total miles for the month of July: 242.28
Total miles for 2012: 1448.11
Miles to go: 563.89   miles til 2012
One way commutes in July: 6
Total one way commutes: 50 (I've reached my goal)
Odometer
Road: 12721
Cross: 542.7

Biking St. Louis

On my first trip to Missouri in 2012, I went with my mother to go see my cousin & her daughter play the National Anthem on their violins for a Cardinals/Cubs game. Violin playing was great and we had fun at the game.
But what really stood out was the bike ride I took before the game.
We stayed about 1.5 miles from the arch, so I rode from the hotel to he arch, turns out I was  on a bike route.

As I rode down Chouteau street in St. Louis, I rode by the St. Louis Housing Authority. Then I turned to go down Market street (I had already driven Chouteau several times). Near market street there was this cool building (turns out it is the St.Louis city hall..thanks google maps) and a van that had a warning on the back "Keep back 50 ft, prisoners on board."

Once I made it to the arch I decided to ride laps around it. Coincidently it was the last stage of Le Tour where the riders ride laps around Parius and under the Arc de Triomphe, so it was only appropriate. It looks like they ecourage cycling around the arch.

 Then I meandered my way to the cobblestones we found the night before. Those were not fun to ride on & I was on the cross bike, can't imagine being on a road bike.

On my way back to the hotel I stopped to take a picture
and was passed by 7 cyclists. Of course I had to see if I could catch up to them. As I was getting closer, two riders dropped off the pack. A man sitting at a bus stop bench stood up to 'Cheer' them on. As I passed he, cheered for me, too. Think he said something like, " You can catch them! I've got your back!" It made my day.  And at the next light I did catch them. Had a nice conversation with one of the guys, but was never able to break into it tell him his helmet fit wrong.

Love the Bike St. Louis Signs, need to show those to someone in ACA or the city.

*****************************************************
Miles for this ride: 8.7
Total miles for the month of July so far: 197.51
Total miles for 2012: 1403.34
Miles to go:608.66 miles til 2012
Odometer: Creoss: 533.70

Record # of Flats

I finally got my first flat on the cross bike. I made the decision to GeoCache on the way home, trying to get  all of the Moon Tower Caches. One was at Zilker, an easy stop on the way home. They had the road blocked off for the summer musical so I hopped the curb & rode on the grass for a bit, then hopped another curb and onto the Moon Tower, it was at the Moon Tower that I realized I had grassburrs in my tire! Time to change the tire, after I find the cache & take my picture. Once the back tire was changed, the front started going  flat. Since I didn't have another tube, I added some air & prayed. And in true Kim fashion, I rode to the next cache on 12th & Windsor. Searched 7 searched and DNF. I'm a good looker poor finder as Alison would say. Add a bit more air to the front tire then off I go.

Next day, buy 2 more tubes & another liner. I for some reason attempted to patch the tube...after 5 patches I gave up when it went flat again. :-(

Front tire only had 3 holes, but I knew how it would play out if I patched them, so I didn't. Come Wedsday, the back tire was flat again. Took out the tube, couldn't find a hole, struggled to put the tube back in & it wouldn't air up. Time to throw in the towel. Next morning I t ook the wheel to the new bike shop in Westlake (Wheels in Motion). At lunch my tire was fixed. Only $12.50. Not bad, considering tubes are $5.00 and he, too, had a hard time putting the tire back on. Here's to no flats on the Katy trail, condsidering this was my first flat since I've owned this bike, not too bad and now there is a liner that will hopefully prevent more flats!
On a bummer to me note, I didn't notice the computer wasn'tworking on the way home from Zilker, so the odometer is now 5 miles off, oh well.

*****************************************************
Total miles for the month of July so far: 69.34
Total miles for 2012: 1275.17
Miles to go: 806.17 miles til 2012
One way commuting trips: 2
Total for the year one way commuting trips: 46
Odometer: Road: 12599
Cross: 488.6

Great End of June Ride

Went on the Mamma Jamma Training ride on June 30th. Love the San Marcos ride, rolling hills & long stretches. Everything is falling into place as I'm stronger than I have been since 2007. How do I know? I lead a lot of the way, when I fell behind KPT & Victor I was able to catch up. Also rode in the big ring a bunch & never shifted to the granny ring. And in the end I averaged 15.1 mph (not aided by the wind!)

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Total miles for the month of June: 272.46
Total miles for 2012: 1205.83
Miles to go: 806.17    miles til 2012
One way commuting trips: 9
Total for the year one way commuting trips: 44
Odometer: Road: 12572
Cross: 450.20

Record breaking Bike Ride

On Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 it hit 109 in Austin. So, what did ABCx do? We rode our normally scheduled Tuesday night ride! And the best part was, no one passed out!  We did find that it was hotter when we stopped riding, so stops were limited to a few minutes.

ABCx has started riding w/ the Mamma Jamma training rides. On Sunday we went to the Veloway. I had the pleasure of giving Grenita  ride. Last time I road down there was about 18 months ago. I remember struggling up the hills, well, I kicked their butts this time! It's always good to see progress!
 But on the progress note, I don't feel like I'm as fast as I was last year,def not as fast when D & I were riding.

Still riding to work at least 1 full trip a week and trying to run errands in the hood.

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Total miles for the month: for June so far:  237.44
Total miles for 2012: 1170.81
Miles to go: 841.19    miles til 2012
One way commuting trips: 9
Total for the year one way commuting trips: 44
Odometer: Road: 12537
Cross: 450.20