Day ride round trip.

[dazzler24]

Weather was glorious today and after hosting a family Christmas in July last weekend (~30 guests) followed by torrential rain for a few days after that, there was nothing holding me back for a quick 300km round trip.  Left with a full tank and arrived home just as the fuel guage started the blinking phase.  Love it when a plan comes together! 🙂

First stop was for smoko on Balmoral Ridge 22 C (~72F).  No one around and clear views to the Pacific Ocean.  Bliss.

 

Next stop was the small town of Esk to book in to the holiday park cabins for some pedal power riding in August on the rail trail with Mrs Dazzler and some friends.

Had to drop in to the local hotel for lunch and a schooner of course.

 

Then return home via Somerset dam and the hamlet of Hazeldean.

 

A good day all round and soothing for the soul. 👌 🙂

 

[2and3cylinders]

Drinking and riding!  The horror! 

Sounds like I inspired you and near identical weather as me!

I went on reserve at about 175 miles (281 km), which is better than it's been, and that was on E0 RON 91.  Bike said 45.3 mpg but calculated it was -43. 

In my debilitated, overweight and out of shape condition, 256 miles (412 km) yesterday was pushing it, which was exactly a week after I did 236 miles in 86 F with a fair bit of humidity and felt better?  I guess I'm Vulcan.

On the bike, my shoulder has been ok but my sciatica, while 300% better since my lumbar fusion last August, still oddly appears in my hips when riding and much worse, when walking any distance. 

Ah well, I'm only commenting not complaining. 

I hope to get out again Friday.   Weekdays the back roads are much quieter.

Gotta keep at it but it appears they may need to redo my shoulder. 

The young Red however ran like a champ but I as far from pushing him!

[wordsmith]

On 7/26/2022 at 5:54 PM, dazzler24 said:

Weather was glorious today and after hosting a family Christmas in July last weekend (~30 guests) followed by torrential rain for a few days after that, there was nothing holding me back for a quick 300km round trip.  Left with a full tank and arrived home just as the fuel guage started the blinking phase.  Love it whan a plan comes together! 🙂

First stop was for smoko on Balmoral Ridge 22 C (~72F).  No one around and clear views to the Pacific Ocean.  Bliss.

 

Next stop was the small town of Esk to book in to the holiday park cabins for some pedal power riding in August on the rail trail with Mrs Dazzler and some friends.

Had to drop in to the local hotel for lunch and a schooner of course.

 

Then return home via Somerset dam and the hamlet of Hazeldean.

 

A good day all round and soothing for the soul. 👌 🙂

 

Nice ride, about the right distance too to make it worthwhile.   Familiar pix as well!   My GT has now been RWC'd,

registered, and insured, and all ready for a similar outing, maybe this weekend, fingers crossed!

[dazzler24]

@wordsmith- Just an FYI.

My weather app is saying there might be some showers around Sunday?  Although the BOM is showing no rain for Sunday but a chance of some for Monday.

 

[2and3cylinders]

And up here, oddly same same if logically 10 degrees warrmer!

[dazzler24]

@2and3cylinders- We've almost reached equilibrium!  Next phase - hot as Hades here and freezing cold for you.

[wordsmith]

2 hours ago, dazzler24 said:

@wordsmith- Just an FYI.

My weather app is saying there might be some showers around Sunday?  Although the BOM is showing no rain for Sunday but a chance of some for Monday.

 

I don't know the origin of this forecast, but it's one of a few that I seek occasionally.   They differ, of course!

[2and3cylinders]

Please don't remind me Daz!   I've only been out twice now since the day before my prostate surgery last December.   My shoulder surgeon in my exam just yesterday recommended going back in because the pain is just getting worse, so something tore again!  I asked him if I deferred until winter if I'd do anymore damage.  He said unlikely. 

So I'm contemplating gritting my teeth for as long as I can.  Oddly, I'm mostly OK once in the saddle if I alternate Motrin and Tylenol every 4 hours.  The discs and stenosis up at C3~6 is actually more an issue but still tolerable.  But I've always hada high tolerance for pain.  My L3~5 disc fusion lat August went Muy Bueno (sciatica though is still more than a bit of an issue), and even more so are the results of my last prostate ream job!

So let's hit the bricks so too speak!  I plan on heading out Friday and again Sunday if I'm up to it!

[dazzler24]

14 hours ago, 2and3cylinders said:

Please don't remind me Daz!   I've only been out twice now since the day before my prostate surgery last December.   My shoulder surgeon in my exam just yesterday recommended going back in because the pain is just getting worse, so something tore again!  I asked him if I deferred until winter if I'd do anymore damage.  He said unlikely. 

So I'm contemplating gritting my teeth for as long as I can.  Oddly, I'm mostly OK once in the saddle if I alternate Motrin and Tylenol every 4 hours.  The discs and stenosis up at C3~6 is actually more an issue but still tolerable.  But I've always hada high tolerance for pain.  My L3~5 disc fusion lat August went Muy Bueno (sciatica though is still more than a bit of an issue), and even more so are the results of my last prostate ream job!

So let's hit the bricks so too speak!  I plan on heading out Friday and again Sunday if I'm up to it!

This reminds me of the Chris Cross lyrics for 'Ride Like the Wind'.  Think he had you in mind when he wrote it....😉

🎼 My body's weak
I'm on the run
No time to sleep
I've got to ride
Ride like the wind
To be free again 🎶

Bet you can't get that earworm out of your head for the rest of the day now. 🤣

[2and3cylinders]

Oldbikers & I finally got out together again yesterday. 

I took it easy on him.

As he's old.

I won't post a photo of him without his consent.  I stopped on the return leg a Adrian's Frozen Custard, my second WI favorite.  OB abstained for health reasons.   Poor guy.  Work to ride, ride to eat Custard! 

Beautiful day, high 70s, a bit cloudy and windy, and I'm not sure traffic would have been less on a Sunday. 

My route had some challenging bits for our locale, the usual haunts as I didn't have the strength yet to be more creative and adventuresome, and OB had his limits too.

A fair number of riders were also out for a week day albeit a Friday.

I should have adjusted my poor FJ's chain before when I just lubed it but didn't and it must have gone over the deep end.  I've NEVER ridden with one so loose, it was clacking and whacking, and causing the rpm to constantly fluctuate unless I was super-duper smooth with my inputs but road irregularities still made it whip wildly.  I'm now afraid to inspect for damage, and suspect a new ensemble will be required prematurely, though it's a 520 albeit a DID ZVM-X. Which for the last two sets have been good for 20,000 miles.  My bad or have they gone downhill?

Not sure how soon I'll be up to another ride (maybe Sunday but the temps will be up) but again, doing OK so far this morning. 

[betoney]

5 hours ago, 2and3cylinders said:

I stopped on the return leg a Adrian's Frozen Custard, my second WI favorite.  OB obstained for health reasons.   Poor guy.  Work to ride, ride to eat Custard!

Good job!  I always like to treat myself when out on a ride.  Glad you are back in the saddle enjoying life. 👍

[2and3cylinders]

Another bud àsked last night if I was riding today.  I said I'd let him know this morning  which is now here, as twin excruciating calf cramps woke me even earlier than shoulder pain.   Just as well as the Linzess I take would have got me up anyway; have I ever mentioned my IBS?  LOL

Anyway, I'll adjust the chain and then see how I feel.  If I don't ride I'll replace the battery in the VTR, turn on the petcock. and fire it up since I mothballed it last fall.  Maybe then I'll take IT out for a shorter shakedown run.  Hmmmm

[OldBikers]

I did some of the ride "2 and 3"wrote  about but at a milder pace with another group. 

Another 200 miles and got about 51mpg.  Had lunch at Knucklehead in Eagle.