Cruised by the new pool

I went cruising on Dad's Huffy around the first Laurel Lake and then around in the new neighborhood. I went by the pool and there was a lifegaurd on duty. We talked for a while.

Cruised

I went for a quiuck cruise around all three Laurel Lakes today on "Muffy" (my name for it anyway) which is Dad's Huffy Wild Wood.

First group ride today!

Before the afternoon bike ride I went to the Indy 500 parade. Lance Armstrong (this year's pace car driver) was there and I got a few pics.

I went on my first group ride of the season today with Mr. W, S.W., and Jon. We started at the 96th St. Monon Trail parking lot, went down the Monon Trail, cut through Broad Ripple, and then got on the Tow Canal Path. When we were in between the the two trails Jon slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting a tree limb hanging over the sidewalk. His rear tire must not have stopped, or he only used his front brake, but he flew up over the handle bars and landed on his feet. He was unharmed from that little stunt. Then when we were almost to the end on the Tow Canal Path, a biker tried to pass me and I kept with him for a good while. Then we came across a road, he acted as if he was going to turn, but he didn't and he pulled ahead of me. I think he did it on purpose! We had a quick break for water and chocolate energy bars, then we headed back, with Jon and I taking the lead and increasing it. On the way back Jon was having some minor trouble with his front derailleur, shifting into the third gear. After Broad Ripple he messed with it again and then it just quit working all together. Since he couldn't pedal, he turned his rear LED light to flashing then started walking. He ran then would jump on, would run by it or coast... and even carry it. I peddled near him slowly and we got to talk. We had a little over 2 miles but it passed quickly and we were soon at the truck.

Overall the ride took three hours, and we (Jon & I) completed it in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Mr. W. and S.W. came in 15 minutes later.

I drank probably 20+ ounces of water right after the ride, way to fast when I should have been cooling down. My gut was feeling worse and worse until after I got home, I emptied my stomach, then I felt fine. I think I learned my lesson.

Well, I really enjoyed my first group ride of the season and I'm excitedly looking forward to many more!

Got my bike back

I got a new wheel and tire from Bike Wave. Total was a little over $60. When I got home I inflated the tire, which for some reason they didn't do all the way, and it seemed to wo work great! I didn't have a change to take it out real far, far enough to qualify as a ride. After I gave my younger brother more biking lessons, I went and got our old Huffy Wild Wood girls coaster at of the barn. I scrubbed it and inflated the tires then took it for a spin weaving around the Laurel Lakes. It's really comfy and is great for hands-free driving! Since my mountain bike can't balance, it was hard getting used to, but I could go for about 30 seconds at a time.

Mr. W. says we're going on bike ride tomorrow! Unfortunantly, until he gets the full-suspension frame he wants, we're not going to go on the Town Run Trail (the best trail near us) so I'm guessing we're going on the Tow Canal Path, or the Monon Trail. It will be my first "real" bike ride of the season!

I'm getting my rear wheel replaced

I took my bike in to Bike Wave today to see what they could do. When I called earlier they said they possible could do while I waited, and I could watch and learn. Well the guy looked at it and said I needed a new wheel. The cheapest they had was $50 (plus labor... which is $6-8) so I said to go ahead with it.

I bent my rear rim today

I was 11 minutes into my ride at West Park, (I got there in a little less than 5 minutes) when I took a corner too fast, and too sharp. My pedal clipped the curb, and I landed on the grass. When I got back on my bike, I realized that my rear rim was bent! It rubbed the brake pads pretty hard, so I decided to walk home. It took me a little less than 25 minutes to walk (every once in a while I would jog for a bit) with my hand guiding the bike. Half-way though Laurel Lakes, a biker passed me, and he was really pumping! So I'm going to have to fix it somehow...

Passed some "real" bikers

I went for a 15 minute ride, circling the Laurel Lakes 3 times. On the way north coming back the first time, I passed 2 "real" bikers (with helmets and jerseys) with another guy (with a cowboy hat) on a bike. They were roadies, BTW. They were'nt going very fast, just coasting. On my second time around, near the same area, they were going the other way.

Tested out my "old" toe clips

I decided to try out my "old" Mt. Zefal plastic toe clips. (that came with the bike when I bought it)
When I got the bike I wasn't used to toe clips so I just took them off. However, the recent rides have been showing me that I could use toe clips, because my feet keep slipping off. So I put them on and went for a quick 6 minute ride around the Laurel Lakes. They worked and I don't foresee a problem with them, so they're staying. I was planning on buying a set of steel toe clips with straps from Nashbar, but I won't need to anymore. I can use the money for something else... like maybe a jersey.

Got pics of my bike

I went for a 35 minute ride to West Park, taking 5 minutes to get there. I saw a rabbit sitting on somebody's driveway. It looked like a statue. I went up the big hill but went down very slowly because it was really soggy. I went through the woods trail twice, forwards and backwards.

Afterwards I rubbed most of the mud off with an old towel. Then I took some pics... here's a link to view them.

18 minute quicky

I went for a quick 18 minute ride to WestPark. I made it there in 5 minutes. I didn't do much because the ground was mushy. So, no hill and no woods trail. When will it quit raining???

4 days of rain + bike ride = slight mess

There was a lull in the rain that we've had so I raced outside on my bike. I went the long way around the Lakes to go to West Park. It was about 50F, so I didn't do much there. There where only 3 other people at the park, and they all rode in a pale green convertable VW Bug. When I was about to hit the gravel path, I saw a puddle, and knew that the whole trail was gonna be watery... so I decided to go for it and if I got muddy... oh well. I got muddy alright! All up my back and my front. But, what else can you expect after 4 days of rain?

6 minute ride

I went for a 6 minute ride around the Laurel Lakes once, because it started to sprinkle.

I went for a 64 minute ride to West Park. I go there in less than 5 minutes. When I went up the hill for the first time I passed a young couple laying on the grass on the back of the hill. ( so I didn't see them when I started.)

I went on the woods trail twice forwards. I went over both of the

Longer way back

I went on a 35 minute bike ride to West Park. I made it there in a few seconds less than 4.5 minutes!
Twice on the paths, I passed a Middle-Eastern Nun walking with a guy (of the same nationality) I had never seen a Nun at the park before. I went up the big hill all the way sitting down. Also I blasted that small series of hills twice.
On my way back home, I went the longer way past the Lakes.

Almost got hit by a car

I was just starting out on my way to West Park and I was coming up on a Y in the road. Some idiot took the crve practically without turning, going into the opposite lane, and almost hitting me! It was like they didn't even see me. Anyway, I made it to the park in less than 5 minutes. It was 63F outside and a bit nippy so I kept it short... a 20 minute ride. On my way home as I was turning on to the final sidewalk, I had to slam on my brakes... there was a mother duck along with 3 or 4 ducklings on the sidewalk! Fortunantly, I missed all of them. After I got home, I raced back to the spot with a camera, but I couldn't see them anywhere.

Wore my biking shirt

I went for a 47 minute ride to West Park. I passed a couple dozing on top of a picnic table inside of a open-sided shelter, and a shirtless guy with his little boy and two dogs. I don't think he was picking up their waste, because I saw some laying the the middle of the path. Pathetic. I ended up going up the hill the first time out of the saddle, because when I shifted into my 1st gear (in the front) it wouldn't shift, so I had to turn around, get it properly shifted, then retry. My second time up the hill was all the way sitting down, so that was cool. On my from doing the woods trail forwards I passed a lady walking her huge black great dane. He wasn't even on a leash! It was about 80F, so I wore my biking shirt for the first time this year.

Mud-splattered!

First I went down to the parking lot of the soccer fields and hopped the 5 speedbumps for fun, then headed to West Park. I made it there in less than 5 minutes. I headed towards the bridge walkways, but bypassed the first because there were 4 little kids and their mom (or sitter maybe?) on it. Then I went up the big hill. I headed towards the woods... the paths were muddy with puddles from last night's rain. I got muddy water splattered all over me! It was good I had my sunglasses on or else I would have gotten a bunch in my eyes. In all it took 25 minutes.

biking

I got to West Park in 5 minutes. I went up the big hill twice about 95% sitting down. On my way to go through the woods trail forwards for the first time I passed an Oriental lady carrying her little boy. I later passed them in the parking lot, she had a dark blue Scion xB. Pretty cool! My second time though the woods trail I timed myself at apx. 57 seconds. I was going almost top speed in 2&8. (gears) When I went over the bridge walkways I had to slam on my brakes when 3 Mallard ducks rose up from the water on one side and flew over the bridge. Kinda startling... On my way back through Laurel Lakes I was feeling good, so I circled the 3 Laurel Lakes again pretty much non-stop pedaling.