Last of November

The turkey and stuffing are well digested and this afternoon was time to get out for a ride.  On my last, and first ride, with the Black Mountain Cycles bike I thought the handlebars were a touch high.  Today I lowered the handlebars 15mm before heading out.  I also strapped a super blinky to the seatpost.

Not a crash, just testing the ice. 

It was nearly 40 degrees when I left the house.  The sun was quickly dropping in the sky and I had a feeling the temperature was about to follow.  It's been below freezing the past couple days and when I got down to the swamps I found an icy landscape.

A setting sun. 

There were several hunters parked down in the wildlife area.  I passed by a father and son headed for the woods.  "Have a good hunt!" I yelled.  "We're gonna' try!" the father yelled back.  Before dusk I left the swamps, climbing Clark Road to the east.  As the sun began to set I heard end of day gunshots from the woods.

After climbing south on James Road I reached Harrison and turned west.  A couple rollers kept me warm.  The air temperature was dropping and the sun was about gone for the day.  I stopped alongside the road for what I thought would be one last picture.

Sunset from the county line.

Coming around an uphill bend on County Line Road I looked up to see a flock of birds flying over in formation.  "That would make a good picture" I thought as I ripped my glove off my hand with my teeth to retrieve the camera from my pocket.  I got my picture and returned the camera to my pocket.  The hill didn't allow me to put my glove back on as I needed to tend to stand up pedaling.  My hand was frozen by the time I did get my glove back on and it took a mile to warm up again.

Formation flying. 

About this time I realized it was smart to have put the blinky light on the back, but I was about to need a headlight up front.  The shortest route home was back through the gravel in the swamps, no need to twist my arm for this option.  I had to drop my lightly tinted glasses to my nose and look over top the lenses to see where I was going.  A pothole caught me by surprise and I nearly lost the handlebars from my grip but kept hold.  Then, a couple miles of road and I was home, ready to stand in front of the wood stove.

Dark came fast.

Clouded Sunset

Came home from work and headed to chase a sunset.  Well, not really chase as I was riding east towards Moreland hill.  I figured that would be a good destination to reach as the sun was going down and maybe get another good sunset picture from this point of high ground.

This time my headlight battery was fully charged and ready to go, unlike the night ride I did a couple weeks ago where it was flashing low battery before I reached the end of the driveway.  That one was not good planning.  Ready to go this time.

 Got pumpkin?

I made it to Moreland hill knowing the sky was not setting up for a good sunset.  Atop the hill I pulled over and looked west to see mostly clouds.  Oh well, it was good motivation to get me here.  I turned south and came back via Graber Rd, switching on my light about halfway home.  It was a nice, quiet ride back home.

Amish buggy heading west under a setting sun.

North and Back

With wind coming from the NNW I aimed myself at the Overton Valley.  I made the right decision turning back to the house before reaching the end of the road, arm and knee warmers were needed.  The skies were clear but it was 59 and a bit windy when I left.

I had to stop and take this picture for Daniel.

"A grader!" he said when I showed it to him.

Several times I made the decision to ride further north before choosing a couple lefts and turning south.  I road 539 for a long time with the wind at my back and the smooth pavement carrying me along.  Second largest cog, down in the drops, I felt like I was flying.

A mile around the corner from home.

Just before sunset I was back home and hungry.   A fine after work ride.

Riding Home via Moreland

This morning I drove to work with my bike and gear in the car.  I spent the rest of the day thinking about what route I would ride home.  Thinking about the setting sun and good vantage points I decided I would ride home via Moreland Hill.

I changed clothes in my car after work and jumped on the bike.  The sunset was setting up nicely with partially cloudy skies.  As I rode south I began to wonder if the sun on my right would set before I made it to the hill.  Thankfully I arrived in time to see a rather dramatic sunset.

Nice view and ride home from here,

watching the sun drop out of view ahead.

More Swamp Pics

A few more pictures from last night's ride...

First pic of the ride on the way out.

Light at the ready, prepared for sunset.

Watching the sunset.

 Sun down view from Hoy Road.

Gravel Swamp Ride

The forecast for the week changed and suddenly today, Monday, was the only day calling for sun.  In the middle of the afternoon I thought about getting out for an afternoon ride and realized I had not made the most of the cross tires much this winter.  Gravel... I need to find some gravel...

Heading down Valley Rd.

I mapped out a ride through the Shreve swamps on the gravel roads.  It was not a long route but was entertaining.  It was 38 degrees as I drove home.  I dressed for post-sunset freezing temperatures and headed out in the sunshine.

It looks like it's been there a while, but I do not

remember seeing this oil pump in previous swamp rides.

The air was crisp and the light was soft as I pedaled over gravel and dirt.  It was quiet in the swamps, with the exception of some kids in a jacked up truck.  The sun was setting when I found a "pond" I didn't know existed.  The setting sun and reflections on the stagnant water was a picture waiting to happen.

Darkness coming.

I climbed up Clarke and got my lungs and legs burning before looping back through Moreland to once again cross the gravel on Valley Road.  It was a bumpier ride through the dirt potholes on Valley coming back than going out.  The dips and bumps were more difficult to see in the dark, even with the headlight powered on.  My tinted sunglass lenses were not helping.

Passing by Moreland Fruit Farm on the way home.

It was another nice ride past sunset.  The temperature sure drops fast when the sun goes down.  I look forward to the next one.

58 and the wind was my friend

It was 58 degrees when I promptly left work to get home and jump on my cross bike.  Not too bad for the final January day of 2012.  For the first time in several rides I paid attention to the wind direction and ended up doing it right; I ate the gusts on the way out  but enjoyed a tail wind on the way back.

 I tried racing my shadow on the way out.

We won.

 Setting sun, headlight at the ready.

 A favorite gravel road of mine, only

ridden once the cross tires come out.

Sunset over the Funk bottoms.

Daylight Leak

Made it out to the knob after work for a ride.  I had hoped to be riding by 4:30, knowing sunset was at 6:22 tonight.  It was after 5:00 by the time I unloaded my bike and was ready to roll.  Oh well, maybe just one lap.  Plus, I was not sure how I'd be feeling with the incessant cough still hanging on.

This was the sun status as I drove the dirt road

to the Knob about 5pm.  It was gettin' down.

It was warm, I think the car display said 63 when I pulled in.  Shorts and short sleeves were just right.  The course was in good shape too.  They added some pallets in the typical puddles of Mazeville and they seem to be making a difference.

After finishing the first lap the sun was getting low, but I figured a partial second lap was in order.  At the first opportunity to short cut back I kept riding.  At the second opportunity, top of the Furnace, I could see my car and knew the sun was nearly done for the day.  Too much fun, I kept riding.

It was 6:35 when I made it back to the car after lap number two.  The sun had set but there was plenty of light remaining.  Good times.

Riding Past Sunset

Last night I went out for a ride of unplanned direction and length.  I didn't leave until about 7pm and I knew sunset was about 8:50.  With the camera in my jersey pocket I road west and enjoyed views of the setting sun. 

 Riding westward in the evening made for nice views.

Several times I came to a route decision and opted to not begin the route back home.  Eventually I realized the sun was plummeting and I needed to aim for home.  My blinky light was flashing as I road home in the last bits of light.  It was a nice ride.

The sun dropped out of the sky as I turned for home.