Mosey Monday & More

I’m waxing on sentimentality this evening as I attempt to kickstart a nearly two week drought of regular updates on my cycling.  Although I’ve been absent here, the rides have continued as usual, including a 60 mile ride last Friday on the Fixie and a regular Mosey Monday ride today.  Really nothing out of the ordinary happened either ride except;

• some close calls with traffic and resulting verbal sparring with drivers when appropriate
• encountering normal wildlife including squirrels, bunnies, and an emu/ostrich
• skidding to a sudden stop on wet pavement as a log the size of my thigh looms out of the early morning darkness and is seen to stretch across the entire width of the B&A Trail
• achieving my fastest speed yet on the fixie (37.5 mph) with my legs spinning at about 165 rpm (normal cycling is about 90 rpm)
• encouraging a couple of friends who are leaving for a 750 mile bike ride which will begin Wednesday morning at 4 am

That’s right, nothing out of the ordinary for a cyclist.

Meanwhile, I’ve been busy finishing up three courses for randonneuring.  Last Friday, I had my first route approved, a 200k from Stevensville, MD to Salisbury, MD.  It will be part of the 3 leg October Epic Ride of 2012 (OER-12).

Leg 1 of the OER-12 will begin with an overnight 200k (124 miles) ride.  After breakfast (and maybe a short nap) participants will ride the Seagull Century (102 miles).  The 3rd leg will be an 81 mile ride back to Stevensville.  Legs 1 & 3 will be official randonneuring “permanent” rides.  We’ve got up to about 10 possible riders doing this crazy “event”.  It should be a lot of fun.

My bikes are dirty.  Both are in need of maintenance.  I may have time this week to clean and maintain them … and maybe not.

This is the way it has been.

This Ride: 22.5 miles
Month: 509.6 miles
2012: 3,872.5 miles
Total since 1/1/2010: 17,726.1 miles