Drumroll please....

Presenting the improved Super Stella! New front fork, wheel with a generator hub, disc brake and generator powered headlight! Stella has had so many things replaced/upgraded that if she were human, she would be the Bionic Woman. The only original parts are the frame, cranks, front derailler and chainrings, headset, seatpost, rear brake (but not pads, of course) and rear rack. I suppose after 17,000 miles that's to be expected.

Back in the Saddle Again!

Okay, so it wasn't a very long ride today but, I did it. After cleaning Stella and putting new rear brake pads on (actually, the old ones weren't completely worn out but, decided to put new ones on anyway), I SLOWLY and CAREFULLY swung my leg over the saddle and climbed aboard. The pedaling was no problem (not a surprise there since I did finish the ride after crashing). Stopping was good. Getting off was a bit dicey. Determined that getting off on the other side worked better. After the "test" ride, I rode to Debra's to play Mah Jongg. I find myself riding fairly cautious. That's probably not a bad thing.

On the way home, I went through the neighborhoods and came out at the Chehalis Western Trail bridge over Yelm Hwy. I went over the bridge and as I was coming down the other side I saw something white sitting on the side of the trail. As I got closer, I shined my headlight (it was dark) and saw it was a snowy owl! It was about the size of a cat. I stopped Stella and watched it fly off into the trees. I thought to myself, this is why I ride!

Next week I'm ordering a disc brake for the front of Stella. I'll take a picture and post it when she's all fixed up.

Ah Ha! There are Two Ferry Terminals on Vashon Island!

Another title for this post could be, "Great Ride...Until I Crashed." I'll get to that.
Today, the day after my 49th birthday, was an excellant day for a ride. Leandra and I drove up to Point Defiance to the ferry terminal. We met Leandra's friend, Shawn, and caught the 8:25am ferry (just barely) over to Vashon Island. I've ridden on Vashon once before for the "Ride for Ultrasound" that Dayle and I did a few years ago (pre-Stella). I didn't remember too much of it because it was very foggy that day. Anyway, we got off the ferry and started the long climb up from the water (that part I DID remember). We worked our way toward the other end of the island, stopping in the one larger commercial area of the island for a snack. Shawn said we only had about 15 minutes back to the ferry. I thought to myself that was a pretty short trip! Turns out we were going to a different ferry. Apparently the Southworth and Fauntleroy ferries (Fauntleroy serves West Seattle and Southworth ends up further south). The plan was to take to Southworth ferry and ride back to Pt. Defiance on the mainland. While on the ferry we all bought food (haven't had a hotdog in a very long time!). Just as I unwrapped my dog and put condiments on it, we started to pull into the dock. Leandra and I quickly wrapped our dogs and Shawn grabbed his bowl of chowder and we returned to our bikes. We walked the bikes off the ferry and went into the waiting room where we ate our food. After we finished eating, we, again, climbed a long hill away from the water. We were doing some rollers and then went up a really steep hill. After that a few more rollers then we started a long curvy descent. I was doing well, until I hit a bumpy patch of pavement. I was trying to slow down, but it wasn't happening. Then, the road turned. I was still trying to stop when I got carried onto the shoulder. I couldn't stop and finally Stella couldn't stay upright any longer. We went down on the left side with my shoulder and hip taking the brunt of the fall. Skidded along the shoulder for a bit then stopped. Good thing I wear a helmet because that was skidding along the ground too. Anyway, Shawn helped me up. A couple of other people stopped to see if I was okay. I figured I was okay just sore. Stella seemed to be fine. I just had to pull the brake hood back into place. After shaking off all the debri, I got back on Stella and rode the remaining 20 miles through Gig Harbor, over the Narrows Bridge and back to Pt. Defiance. Leandra and Shawn helped me off Stella and Leandra backed up the car so I could get in.
I don't think anything is broken, but it sure hurts like hell.
Except for the crash, the ride was lots of fun. I'd like to do Vashon again. I also think it would be a fun way to get to Seattle.
Total miles: 44
Total crashes: 1

In the Snow, In the Snow, In the Snow (or Are We Idiots?)

Oh the weather inside's delightful.
But outside it is frightful.
We've got a few miles to go-
In the snow, in the snow, in the snow!

Stella and I and Leandra and Miss No Name braved the snowy weather for a 40+ miler in the snow today. It wasn't really supposed to start snowing until this afternoon. When will we learn to not trust the weather forecast?? Actually, except for the cold fingers and toes of Leandra, it wasn't too bad. AND...I got to use my new camera (it's waterproof, coldproof and shockproof--yep, it did not appear to be shocked at all that we were out riding in the snow!).

We did the same route that I did a few weeks ago (see previous post "A New Discovery and a New Road") except we took the road back into town instead of the trail. We stopped at a little coffee place in Rainier and had Peppermint Hot Cocoa and these sinfully delicious chocolate/cookie dough/caramel bars. YUM! Then when we got to Yelm we had a late lunch at Puerto Vallarta. The thing about riding in COLD weather is that you need to stop and warm up more often (or is it really just an excuse to eat???) Leandra's sister texted her and asked if we were idiots. Hmmm...hard to say.

I enjoyed the ride and had fun taking pictures. I noticed the buttons on this new camera (btw it's a Pentax Optio w90) are easier to push even with heavy gloves.



Here is a microscopic look at the delicious bar!

Me and my "Ninja" riding partner, Leandra.

Snow covered plastic flowers.

The Maiden Voyage!

Unfortunately, there are no pictures of today's ride. It was the maiden voyage of Leandra's new Cannondale t2 (as yet unnamed)! I thought it was going to be similar to Stella's maiden voyage which was in the snow and rain, but the rain stopped by the time I got to Leandra's and didn't ever start up again.
Stella and I and Leandra and her nameless baby headed out Madrona Beach Rd. to Hwy 101. We exited 101 at Hurley Waldrip and rode over to Hwy 108. We followed 108 to McCleary where we stopped at Subway for some lunch. After lunch we worked our way over to Hwy 8 and rode to Ranch House BBQ for some delicious Bourbon Pecan Pie. From there it was home via Old Hwy 410 back into town. By the time we got back to Leandra's, it was pretty dark. Leandra was in her usual, not so bright, black (although it was a very nice new Gore Wear jacket). She rode in front of me so I could have the tail flashers on and my headlight lighting her way.
Total miles for Stella and I: 59.8
Total miles for Leandra and Miss Noname: 50

Never a bad day to ride!

A Momentous Day!

This may be an unusual blog post, but I just had to!
One of the people I would love to tour with is my friend Leandra. We do a lot of day rides together. She is always game for any route I cook up. We have also done STP and Courage Classic. She works a full time job (J-O-B The three-letter four-letter word) and doesn't always have time to train yet, she will still go out and ride 60+ miles with me.
Anyway, today, we set out north on the trail in the rain. Leandra rides a Felt roadbike that doesn't have fenders. Needless to say, I don't ride behind her. We rode to Woodard Bay, then came back to downtown and stopped at Old Town Bicycles. They were having a sale on their floor stock bikes. Old Town doesn't typically have sales. Leandra wanted to get new tires for Maggie (her Felt). They had a couple of Cannondale t2 touring bikes in stock. They had a green one. Patrick fit Leandra on the green one. And...(drumroll please)...she bought it!!! Leandra bought a touring bike!!! Now we can tour together! I'm so excited! I know she won't be able to do super long trips, but definitely we will do some shorter tours. AND...she got fenders!

Never a bad day to ride!

It's Almost Like Summer!

What a beautiful and warm day for a ride! It's November 4th, yet it feels like summer (or at least late spring). I had my lightweight jacket on, but had to take it off because I was too warm! Same with the gloves. I don't think I have ever ridden in November in fingerless gloves!