Sunday, January 27, 2013

4 degrees this morning and everything is covered with a sparkly frost.  Nope, my gear don't go down that far.  Back to bed and sleep in this morning

January 20, 2013

 Gypsy Stats:
5 hr 30 min elapsed time
3 hr 7 min riding time
120.6 miles
38.7 mph

Beemer Stats:
125.7 miles
39 mph
44 mpg




The weather report was for clear skies and relatively mild highs, perfect for a winter day ride.  When I got up, the thermometer read 27, but the internet was reporting mixed temperatures around the area, some as high as 40.  Geared up and getting the bike out, the air was chilly but the sky was clear in the east, promising a brilliant sunrise.


Sure enough, it was cold heading up the road along the creek with the bike thermometer reporting 27-28.  As soon as I rose up out of the creek valley, the temperature jumped up to 41, as shown on the local weather maps.  Weird.  We usually do not see such a large change in such a short distance even with the slight elevation rise.  Temps stayed around 40 all the way to form up.  I was plugged in, turned on, and glad for the full winter gear.


The vagaries of the weather had guided us to the Masonic Temple on 3rd Sundays pretty frequently lately.  With the beautiful forecast, we decided to switch it up and go to Bally Firehouse today.  Riding east across the Blue Hills, we were pointing into the sun with crystal clear air.  The contrasty light made it hard to spot lines in the corners sometimes, so we took it fairly easy.

Breakfast at Bally was definitely OK:  the coffee did not measure up to Marvel Ranch but the chipped beef was good and the scrambled eggs and pork were pretty standard Dutch Country fare.  Have to admit, they pretty much punted on the OJ, tasted like Sunny D watered down to spread it around.

By the time breakfast was over there was a little bit of overcast and the sun was higher in the sky, cutting down on contrast and giving a friendlier lighting to the roads.  Temperatures climbed up above 50, as advertised, so it was really a great day for riding.  One of the reasons we try to get out every Sunday is that forecast aside, you never know what you are going to get.  And while there are some real losers, like last Sunday in the fog, every now and then you get a real winner, like today. We took a jaunt to the east around northern Bucks County winding up with about 120+ miles on the clock, home a little past mid-day with time to do some chores.

First Ride of the Year

January 13, 2013

Gypsy Stats:
Elapsed time:  4 hrs 29 min
Riding time:  1 hr 44 min
Total miles:  59.6 miles
Ave mph:  34.4 mph

Beemer Stats:
Total miles:  62 miles
Ave mph:  36 mph
Ave mpg:  45 mpg


Well, not much of a ride, but first ride of the year none the less.  The day opened with temps in the low to mid 40's and fog - tolerable but not really great riding conditions due to poor visibility.  We decided to get to breakfast as quickly as possible and wait for the sun to burn it off, so back to Marvel Ranch in downtown Reading.  Food was great, coffee was great, but even after 2 1/4 hours, the fog was still with us.  We took a turn down into northern Chester County to give it a little more time but the theory that the fog would burn off by 10 or 11 am just wasn't workin' out today, so we called it quits with a mere 60 miles or so on the clock.