Back from Hiatus

Alert readers will have noted that I kind of completely missed posting last week.  In short, life was a bit hectic, and I’m back.

What’s Changing, and what’s Upcoming?

It’s inevitable.  Seasons change.  Light leaves us.  It gets colder.  We have to make adjustments.  It’s a seasonal thing.  It’s getting harder to get a ride done in the evening.  (There are exceptions.  See below.)

Last week we did the last of the evening Novice Road Rides for this year.  We do not have sufficient daylight to continue these now. But…  We will be doing a ride, in this format, once a month throughout the Fall and Winter.  Beginning on October 14, we will do the Novice Road Ride (Winter Edition) on the Second Sunday of each month.

Those dates are:

October 14, November 11, December 9, January 13, February 10, and March 10.

The rides will start/Finish at Bicycles Unlimited, in Peachtree City.  Ride time will be 2:00 P.M. (sharp)

More Good News!  The road work on Bernhard Rd is finished!  That means we’ll be reverting to the old and tested 23.5 mile loop. (With just a little bit of luck, we’ll get that route painted before we kick this thing off.)

SPIN CLASS!

Yes!  We will be doing our Spin Class once again this year!  We’re still working on some details, but look for classes to start on the first Tuesday in November.  That’s Tuesday, 6 November.  (Spin Class will be a devoted topic in a later post.  Watch for it!)

About Night Riding:

We hinted at this above.  There are opportunities to get out and ride at night.  Night riding requires special equipment (most notably good lights) and techniques.  If you are thinking about getting into that kind of thing, an excellent place to begin is on our regular Wednesday Evening Path Ride.  That’s right.  It’s getting darker.  The regular path ride will start requiring lights on 26 September.  Why?  Because on that date, local sunset will be at 7:29 P.M., and Civil Twilight will end at 7:54 P.M.  In short, we will not be able to get back without lights.

The paths provide a good testing ground for lighting and night riding techniques.  Consider giving this a try.  (Also look for a post on this topic soon too.)

Other Night Rides:

There are still a dates left in this year’s series of “Seasonal Lights Rides.”  The next one in this series in next Monday!  Below is a list of the conditions, venues, and requirements for these rides.

Conditions:  With the exception of the Christmas Lights editions, these rides will go rain or shine.

Requirements:  Helmets, reflective vest or sash, reflective ankle bands, good strong tail lights, good strong headlights, and of course helmets.  While not strictly “No Drop,” we will attempt to keep the group together.

Pace:  Approximately 15 mph rolling average.  No planned stops.

September 24, 2012  Autumn Equinox

                        Where:  Fredrick Brown Amphitheater

                        When:  7:30 PM (sharp)

                        Distance:   Approx 45 miles

                        Rain or Shine

           

November 5, 2012  Mid-Fall  (Samhain)

                        Where:  Hollonville Opry

                        When:  7:30 PM (sharp)

                        Distance:  40 to 45 miles

                        Rain or Shine

December 17, 2012  Christmas Lights Road Ride

                        Where:  Bicycles Unlimited

                        When:  7:00  PM (Sharp)

                        Distance:  approx 35 miles

                        Rain Cancels

December 19, 2012  Christmas Lights Path Ride

                        Where:  Bicycles Unlimited

                        When:  7:00 PM (sharp)

                        Distance:  Approx 18 miles

                        Rain Cancels

There you have it…  At least for now.  Stay tuned.

Back in the Saddle and… A Change In Plans

It’s amazing what a little thing like an election will do to foul up a routine…

From a blogging standpoint, last week was pretty much a waste.  Very likely, one of these days, the events of last week will appear in a Friday Follies post.  It would certainly be worthy of one.  On the other hand, we most certainly did defeat the T-SPLOST!  My most hearty thanks and congratulations to all of you who got out and did your civic duty last Tuesday.  Now that that’s over with, we’re back to the (somewhat) normal routine here.  So without further delay…

This week’s next order of business, a change in routing for the upcoming night ride.

We’ll be taking a somewhat different route on next week’s Mid-Summer’s Eve Celebration Night Ride.  The route will be different, and there will be no unpaved section.  That’s right, pavement all the way.

Some of you are going to be disappointed by this change.  Others may feel some relief.  Regardless, it is a necessary change.  In the past week I did some scouting, and made a discovery.  Coweta County has done things to the unpaved stretch of Bear Creek Rd.  They’ve maintained it.  That’s one word for it.  The road has been recently (badly) graded, and has had a large helping of fresh, large, loose gravel dumped and spread.  Add to that the slash-and-burn along the right of way, and the road exceptionally difficult to ride, and not a good candidate for cyclists at dusk or in the night.

I’m a bit saddened by the change, but it needed to be done.  The ride most definitely is going to go, but the route is all paved, and a good bit different.

On the brighter side, we’ve done our absolute best to pick out a route that will be entertaining and enjoyable. 

Details:

Where:  Brick Yard in Senoia

When:  7:30 PM (sharp)

Distance:  Approx 45 miles

Conditions:  Ride goes rain or shine

Requirements:  Helmets, reflective vest or sash, reflective ankle bands, good strong tail lights, good strong headlights, and of course helmets.  While not strictly “No Drop,” we will attempt to keep the group together.

Hope to see you all out there.

Summer Beckons

The Summer Solstice is this week.  We officially enter the Summer season on June 21.  Of course, we’ll be riding to celebrate the coming season tonight, as this is the Monday closest to the actual date.

It’s been a long and unusually temperate Spring, and now comes the Summer.  It’s time to get out and enjoy the road and trails in the good warm weather.

I’m wondering, just how many of you are contemplating a “staycation” this year?  Would anyone be interested in a bit of touring.  It’s economical and it’s fun.  We don’t have to commit to a long time of riding.  The occasional weekend, or even a well planned over-nighter might just be nice.

Here’s what’s on the plate for the near future.

Tonight!

Summer Solstice Seasonal Night Ride!

Where:  Fredrick Brown Amphitheater

When:  18 June 2012, starts at 7:30 P.M. (promptly!)

Distance:  Approx 45 miles

Duration/Pace:  About three hours to four hours, roughly 13 to 15 mph rolling average

Requirements:  Helmets (of course), Good strong lights that will last for 3 to 4 hours, strong tail light, reflective vest, reflective ankle bands, dress for weather.

This is the “original.”  We’ll go out and “beat the bounds.”  That means we’ll ride around the edges of our town’s “field” or “territory.  This was done in primitive times as a means of marking the bounds of the place where the “people” lived.  We do it as fun, and because we can.

We’ll be starting in the daylight, but it will get dark long before we get back.  It’s fun, and, while this is not strictly speaking, a “No Drop” ride, we promise, we won’t abandon anyone.

Pedal for Pets

Yes!  Southside Cycling Club is putting on their first annual organized ride.  The venue will be in Senoia, GA, and it will go on 14 July.  There will be three distance options, 35 miles, 65 miles, and 100 miles.

I’m particularly excited about this one.  I’ve been working hard to develop the courses, and I must say these are some of the nicest, sweetest roads I’ve been on.

For more info, and to register, click Here

August (date to be determined)

Trip to the mountains.  We’ll be going up to ride the famous “South Triple Gap Loop.”  We’ll be using the “original” route, with the start and finish points in the center of Dahlonega.  53 miles, over 5,000 feet of gain.  Who’s in?

Be sure to check out tomorrow’s post.  It’s the next in new three year long series on developing as a cyclist.

Ride Report coming.  There will be a ride report on tonight’s Solstice Celebration Night Ride.  Look for it here, most likely next week.

MORE Coming Attractions:

Blog readers, you’re getting it here first.  Time to do some calendar marking.  Here’s a partial list of things to come.  Venues and details for these will come, but the dates are firming up.

Audax Tune Ups:

Tune Up 1: 45 miles.  26 Feb.  1:00 PM

Tune Up 2: 45 miles.  11 March 1:00 PM

Tune Up 3: 65 miles.  1 April  11:00 AM

Tune Up 4:  65 miles. 15 April  11:00 AM

Audax 200K:  (The real deal!)  20 May  7:30 AM

Spring Equinox Celebration Night Ride:  19 March  7:30 PM

Note:  There are eight of these “Seasonal Night Rides” coming this year.  Watch this space!

Beltaine (Mid-Spring) Celebration Night Ride:  7 May  7:30 PM

From the Fredrick Brown Aphitheater, Peachtree City, GA

Summer Solstice Celebration Night Ride:  18 June 7:30 PM

From the Fredrick Brown Aphitheater, Peachtree City, GA

Lughnasad (Mid-Summer) Celebration Night Ride: 6 August 7:30 PM

From the Brick Yard (behind Maguire’s) in Senoia, GA

Autumn Equinox Celebration Night Ride:  24 September 7:30 PM

Samhain (Mid-Fall) Celebraion Night Ride: 5 November 7:30 PM

From the Hollonville Opry, Hollonville, GA

Christmas Lights Road Ride: 17 December 7:00 PM

Christmas Lights Path Ride:  19 December 7:00 PM

Coming Attractions:

Time to do some calendar marking.  Here’s a partial list of things to come.

Audax Tune Ups:

• Tune Up 1: 45 miles.  26 Feb.  1:00 PM
• Tune Up 2: 45 miles.  11 March 1:00 PM
• Tune Up 3: 65 miles.  1 April  11:00 AM
• Tune Up 4:  65 miles. 15 April  11:00 AM

AUDAX 200K:  (The real deal!)  20 May  7:30 AM

Dirt Road Ride:  Sunday 19 February  1 PM.
Yepper!  That’s this Sunday.  I know.  Short notice.  Please accept my humble apology for that.

We’ll be doing the new RD2R2-1 route.

• Where:  Bicycles Unlimited
• When:  Sunday 19 February, leaving at 1:00 PM (promptly)
• Distance/Pace:  Approximately 41.  Pace is whatever works for you.  (If you don’t have a cue sheet, or are concerned about navigation/support, stay with me.)
• Conditions:  Ride Goes Rain or Shine!  Helmets required.  Route is about 41 miles with approximately 15 miles of unpaved sections distributed throughout.
• Recommendations:  This is supposed to be fun!  Best bikes are tourists, cyclocross, or other road bikes with a bit more meat on them.  (Do not try this on a race bike with 700X23 racing tires!!)  Fatter and more durable tires will make this a more pleasant ride.

Spring Equinox Celebration Night Ride:  19 March  7:30 PM

Note:  There are eight of these “Seasonal Night Rides” coming this year.  Watch this space!

Achy Legs! (& Random notes)

Last week, I finished the Repurposed Bike Project.  Naturally, I rode it.  It’s heavy.  (More on that soon.)  Add to that, I’ve been doing Spin Classes, and my usual testing of the classes.  So my ride volume is down a bit, but my net intensity is up, and the power demand is way up!

I’m adjusting, and my legs are telling me I’m back in training mode.  It’s like this every year.  My spin stinks, and I find, when I challenge myself, that I’ve lost a good deal of both strength and stamina.  The thought always occurs,  “How could this be?  I’ve been riding my backside off all year!”

Does anyone else feel this way about now?

~~//~~

A few notes on future activites:

Just Four Weeks until the Christmas Lights Road Ride!  (That's Monday 19 December)  Get your lights, reflective clothing, and cool weather gear ready.  Check the South Side Cycling Club Calendar.

The Christmas Lights Path Ride is coming too!  It will be on Wednesday 21 December, just a couple of days after the road edition.

And there is a NEW year coming!  We’ve already been discussing the annual Penance 100+, but there will be more coming.  Watch this blog.  I’ll post the dates and details here first.  What’s coming?  Audax Tune Up Rides.  The Annual Audax Ride.  Maybe a touring weekend, or even a longer tour.  Do stay tuned.

Below is a new video from Bicycles Unlimited.  We’re pretty proud of it.  See what you think.

Oh, and by the by…  Tomorrow’s post will feature an annual Bicyclist’s Hint List.  Be sure to check it out!