12.18.09

22 miles.
Used disposable toe warmers--they were great!
Love that we're riding in Dec.!

12.14.09

Yea! We rode again today after taking over a week off for snow, cold and my broken finger. We did 20 miles--they weren't bad until the wind picked up at the end. The overdue conversation also fueled us.

Start temp 36
End temp 38

Song in my head: Offering (Christmas version)

12.2.09

My new "I'm visible" jacket

Cold and windy today. 17.5 miles. Kinda scary last two miles up the busy incline--the cross wind was so strong I was afraid I was going to be blown into traffic. I think the wind both picked up and got cooler while we were out.

Very soon I will total and average some of this data. Why is riding 20 miles easier than adding?

12.1.09

Sunny but windy. Nice ride. Really needed the "out loud mental processing", or chat. 20 miles.

11.25.09

Pleasant day for a ride--47 degrees, a little rainy and cloudy, windy.

We rode a new route today, one that ended with a killer hill. It's a steep uphill with (for me) two turns at two intersections. I have attempted to make it to the top around 10 times. I have gone up but not attempted (read: walked) about 10 times. I've made it all the way to the top and continued on my last two miles twice. Today I made it to the second turn and there was a car behind us going straight, so I stopped because I was too tired to be clear on what I was doing with the turn. But making it that far is an accomplishment--that far is the brunt of the hard part--and we are some tough biker chicks!

20 miles

Song in my head: Hineh Ma Tove by Seventh Gear

11.24.09

Beautiful leaves still hanging on

Nice ride today--about 17 miles. 46 degrees again, but not so windy and much more pleasant. I never really warmed up after yesterday's ride.

Today I felt fine during the ride but am tired now.

Song in my head: Share It With Me by Family Force Five

11.23.09

No picture again--sorry. I really like the scenery as we ride, I just don't stop to capture it often.

It was cold and rainy today. Around 45 degrees, but so damp it felt colder. It was also windy, and we were both tired. We tried a new route and got a little lost again. 22.5 miles total.

Great chat. I love my friend.

Song in my head: "I Would Walk 500 Miles"

11.20.09

Rode 20 miles. Plus, a walk, to complete the conversation. It was about 40 degrees, and gray, but very pleasant!

Song in my head: Voices by House of Heroes

11.17.09

Beautiful morning for a ride, but WINDY! We walked up a hill because the wind was so strong. And we were tired.

20 miles today. 40 degrees at start, 49 at finish.

I didn't check how long it took--I'm thinking a little longer than normal.

Song in my head: Little Drummer Boy by Family Force 5

11.13.09

20 miles today with Joe the Beast who zigzagged up hills while I strained to keep from wavering in the least. I think I still haven't quite recovered from Wednesday's windy ride.

1.5 hours

40 degrees at start, 50 at finish

No song in my head; strangely, a cheer from 6th grade: "6th grade, 6th grade, don't be shy! Stand and give your battle cry. V-I-C-T-O-R-Y! That's the 6th grade battle cry!"

11.12.09

Still have a pot of flowers blooming!

Cold today--32 start 38 finish. Back to 8am start time.

Short ride--10 miles. It's nice that it's quick, but it's hilly on narrow roads with high speed limits, so it's the worst ride for chatting.

Tired today--the whole ride. Plus cold.

As I ascended a hill, the sun was shining in my eyes, and, an unbidden 35 year old memory came forth. Song in my head: "Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain." There, now you have it in your head, too. (Comment if you know this song. You can chew me out for reminding you. I just want to be sure I didn't make this up.) It was on the little kid records at my grandma's house, I think.

11.11.09

Today we had a very windy ride, as we had earlier this week. This time the wind was coming from the opposite direction and I was ready to walk up a hill just 3 miles into the ride! I guess I usually count on help getting up that hill.

The ride home was much easier than usual, however. :)

We did 17 miles--temp was around 50 (we went at 1 pm instead of 8 am). It took a little over 1.5 hours, but we stopped to unhook clothes that were getting caught, answer texts, blow noses and take pictures.

The last mile and a half of my ride usually goes through a cemetery. This cemetery flies flags on certain holidays. They are very impressive.

Thanks to all veterans and servicepeople.

11.9.09

Warning: calf in picture is smaller than it appears :)

Good ride again today--60 degrees at start, 63 at finish. Soooo lovely, nice to feel the wind on skin for a change.

We went later, at noon, although I wouldn't have needed last weeks triple layers even at 8 AM.

20 miles in the usual 1.5 hours.

Song in my head: "We will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever" (can't remember the title, but this phrase is repeated a lot).

11.6.09

Frosty morning! started out at 30 degrees--up to 44 at end.

We got lost today...on beautiful winding country roads.

We ended up going 24.25 miles in just a little over 2 hours. I was tired, but it was a good ride.

1 pinky finger was cold.... and my toes were at the end. Otherwise I was fine--sweating just a few miles in.

Song in my head: Joyful Noise by Lecrae

So thankful to be able to ride and talk today. My friend is often like a mirror for me, helping me see things about myself I might not notice.

11.05.09

Biked today--no picture, short ride, beautiful day.

10.5 miles in about 45 min. 40 degrees.

11.2.09

One of the more unusual things on the road this morning

Finally biked again--with Joe today! It was almost like a date! He's a beast--he did what Taylor does on the hills--glides up them effortlessly as if pushed by some unseen divine horsepower (not that I'm bitter or anything).

Anyway, we did 20 miles in 1 hr. 40 min. (stopped to make a phone call and pick up a few texts--he's on call).

The ride was beautiful although a little cold--38 to start, 48 at finish.

Song in my head: "Spring Up, O Well"--the double bass pedal screamo rocker version Taylor's band was playing yesterday.

10.27.09

Great morning for a ride! Temp was perfect: 48-51.

17.5 in 1.5 hours

10.22.09

The sky as I was leaving this morning

Short ride today: 10.5 miles, 50 minutes
Temp: low 50s--can't remember exactly

Gorgeous ride!

10.21.09

My friend took this picture; she is dexterous and has great balance, not to mention a good eye!

Today's ride was so beautiful! Temperature was 48 to start, 61 at end.

We rode 21.5 miles today--a new route that we did not measure before taking--in just over 1.5 hours. I am good at some things, directionally, but I find that it is very hard for me to keep my bearings while riding. I've gotten lost and ridden on unmarked roads and crossed major highways at unfamiliar places. Then I get home and look it up and am surprised. I know a cycling friend who carries a GPS--I've always kind of smirked at this, but when I'm standing next to a cornfield on some country road, it would be comforting to know where I am, or more specifically, how many miles till home. I'm also not good at estimating distance.

All this to say: we were going to do a shorter ride today, but we didn't. It was a gorgeous day to ride more!

We saw the aftermath of an accident. A set of wheels came off a trailer and smashed into the front of a van. I was suddenly aware and grateful again for God's protection. Had we been there earlier and been hit by the wheels, I don't think we would have survived.

Afterward: I feel great--10
cold: not at all--10

Loved loved loved today's ride!

10.20.09

Someone made our fall rides more fun! (There are little orange gourds on every post.)

A little idyll we usually zip past

Another great day for a ride. We got too hot, having overdressed.

Miles: 20
Temp: 46 at start, 53 at end
Time: 1.75 (including stops to take pictures and take off clothes)

Song in my head: Salvation Belongs to our God (same as yesterday--but this route allows for much more talking, so I don't need a song...)

Afterward:
Tiredness: not at all, really: 10
Cold: nope

10.19.09

Today was a GORGEOUS day for a ride. We did 14 miles in 1.25 hours. Temp. was 35 starting out, 43 by the time we got home. No breeze, sun making the trees glow.

I was tired, but that was from being up too late last night.

Felt pretty good the entire ride.

After: feel great --10
not too cold at all --also 10

Song in my head: Salvation Belongs to our God (by Petra) from Revelation 7, the CBS chapter this week.

10.16.2009

Grey day, gorgeous leaves...

COLD today! 36 degrees, not too much wind.

Took a route with rolling hills--beautiful! 17.5 miles--thought it was less, so a little perturbed by the 1.5 hour time until I checked Map My Ride and saw it was longer. This route takes us past farms, beautiful landscape, and one little section of 4-lane highway. Last time we rode this, the shoulder on the highway was full of junk, broken glass, rocks, etc. This time it had been cleaned off! It was pretty sweet.

Still need shoe covers, better gloves.

Conversation was good today--got some good perspective from my friend.

Songs in my head: (It's Too Late to) Apologize
Lord, Have Mercy

Afterward: not too tired at all--8
not warming up--5

10.14.09

18 miles
38 degrees
1.5 hours
light rain started just under 1 hour in

walked up one hill and talked at the top (tired, important conversation topic)

windbreaker, gloves were good today. need shoe covers.

song in my head: "I'm Climbing Up the Mountain"

afterward: tired 7 (on a scale of 1-10)
cold 5, esp. feet

Keeping track

A friend and I have been bicycling several days a week as our workouts.

I love it.

I love being outside, I love working hard, I love talking with my friend, I love the encouragement, I love the thought of building muscles while burning calories.

The last two days have been tough rides, mainly because of the weather. We talked today about sticking with this and riding all winter and logging our miles. The word "hardcore" came up, descriptively.

We aren't planning to race or take a long trip or spend too much more money (maybe on shoe covers). We just want to stay healthy, working out in an enjoyable way.

So this blog may end up detailed or boring or insiderish-sounding. My goal is to have a record of what I'm doing. Read along if you like. Ride along, too!