Select Page

Beautiful weather after a rainy couple of days.

I was really excited to ride south today as I assume the park is beautiful with all the fall colors but alas it was not to be! All the rain recently has swollen the river and the underpass was flooded. I turned around and rode back the other way but that underpass was flooded too!!!! /sigh It was a beautiful day though – I can’t believe this is November!!!

I biked with MapMyRide!
Distance: 5.72mi
time: 32:26
pace: 5:40min/mi
speed: 10.58mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1847997665

Halloween Weekend Ride

I won’t get out tomorrow because I will be trapped in the house while little ghouls and goblins run up to get king-sized candy bars!!!! Seriously – I fear what would happen if I missed trick-or-treat at this point! Its so much fun though, I love the look on their faces when they get a giant candy bar. Can’t wait!! So I got my ride in today so offset any calories from the inevitable “shrinkage” of candy that will occur tomorrow.  Some always goes missing, I think its a poltergeist!

I biked with MapMyRide!
Distance: 6.75mi
time: 35:33
pace: 5:16min/mi
speed: 11.39mi/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/1838896478

halloweenride2

halloweenride3

halloweenride1

New territory!

I don’t like that its getting colder but I do love fall. I love the changing leaves, the smells in the air, the foods. I even do like the colder weather as its an excuse to start a fire and get cozy!   Today was a beautiful fall day and the forest is really starting to change.  It was perfect riding weather too so The Other and I decided to check out a new path at a different forest preserve.  We have been to Lake Carina before but I forgot (or it wasn’t built yet) that it had this awesome dock with benches I could sit on and just gaze over the lake.  Very peaceful!

I biked with MapMyRide!
Distance: 7.50mi
time: 55:57
pace: 7:28min/mi
speed: 8.04mi/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/1826176094

team-cycles fall-ride

Imagination is a wonderful thing

Thought I would be all cute and take selfies with my bicycle in front of a swampy area then Photoshop in a Sasquatch or alien in later.  However as I was making sure the images came out OK I heard a loud splash into the water.  My first thought was alligator (totally legitimate threat in northern Illinois in October!) so once I made sure nothing was running at me I jumped on the bike and rode away as fast as I could.  Hence why I have such a good time stat today.

I biked with MapMyRide!
Distance: 11.83mi
time: 01:05:16
pace: 5:31min/mi
speed: 10.87mi/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/1818939830


Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.

Cloudy fall day but perfect weather for a ride. A little cool but just the right amount for working up a sweat.  The Other came with me today and it was fun to ride with someone – especially since I was more in the mood to play video games!  I also got to try out my new Bionic Cycling gloves which were pretty amazing.  The padding is intense but doesn’t get in the way or make you lose contact with the handlebars.  This first ride I was getting used to them but I look forward to future rides where I can really see how they perform.

Fun fact – title quote is from John F Kennedy!

I biked with MapMyRide!
Distance: 6.69mi
time: 39:41
pace: 5:56min/mi
speed: 10.12mi/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/1814555612

gloves

Fall Workout

Beautiful fall day.  Weather was crisp and clean. Although I was harassed by a rude squirrel.  I actually saw the same squirrel on the return trip – ran across my path again.  I guess when you have shit to do you can’t let anyone get in your way.

I biked with MapMyRide!
Distance: 11.52mi,
time: 01:02:54
pace: 5:28min/mi
speed: 10.99mi/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/1800881771

Fall is on the way…

The days are getting shorter and it makes me sad. Today the sun was setting at 6:44pm! Just a few weeks ago it was 8:14pm!!  Oh well, there are good things about fall  – pumpkin pie mostly.  Lots of critters on the trail tonight, check out the video for an awesome trash panda sighting!

I biked with MapMyRide!
Distance: 11.83mi
time: 01:05:34
pace: 5:32min/mi
speed: 10.83mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1770952565


I wanted to show you the Trash Panda, but I was also playing with the video editing software so enjoy my feeble attempts at transitions and slo-mo

Rainy Ride

14463248_10154039892273224_6334388178337680680_n

I biked with MapMyRide!
Distance: 16.98mi
time: 01:35:31
pace: 5:38min/mi
speed: 10.66mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1767250652

No ride tonight as the weather wasn’t the greatest (Brent and I actually rode then in a drizzle) and one of the usual riding members was injured.  So instead after Brent and I rode to the bike shop we headed right over for Chili!!!  I don’t like to ride with a big belly (insert fat joke here) so I got Berries and Cream which was super delicious.  But then again I am a woodland fairy so thing like berries and cream and super sweet fruity tea is right up my alley 🙂

GPS Down :(

14361251_10154030345268224_3175237975097960192_o

For whatever reason the GPS on my phone wasn’t cooperating tonight so it didn’t fully track my ride.  Here is the data I have:

Part 1
Distance: 0.00mi
time: 44:14
pace: N/A
speed: 0.00mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1751782730

Part 2:
Distance: 19.47mi
time: 02:10:43
pace: 6:43min/mi
speed: 8.94mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1752055889

I still had a lot of fun but it was a pretty long ride! almost 30 miles! I think its the longest ride I have done this season.  Brent was kind enough to lend me his GPS data, which although not perfect is a good indicator of the overall ride.  Brent rides farther then me so I think this overstates my ride by 5-7 miles.

gurnee0915                            libertyville0915

 

Three skunk tails and a long ride home

I biked with MapMyRide!
Distance: 26.97mi
time: 02:27:15
pace: 5:28min/mi
speed: 10.99mi/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/1704026402

Saw 3 skunks tonight, all after the GoPro died.  The last one was just me and the skunk on a bridge and it lunged at me – totally thought I was gonna get sprayed with that one!!  Also saw lots of frogs (I don’t remember this many last year) and a couple of chipmunks.  One even lost his nuts!  Other than that we were just being our usual silly selves!

GP010016-0001