tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481265.post2855630179006055315..comments2023-10-28T02:40:19.782-04:00Comments on Suburban Cycling: 2012 National Capital Area Tour de CureMelanie Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02540747770586922326noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481265.post-66955510290092540372012-06-09T23:07:02.408-04:002012-06-09T23:07:02.408-04:00I nearly spat out my drink with laughter when I re...I nearly spat out my drink with laughter when I read this response earlier today. :)Melanie Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02540747770586922326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481265.post-81248837558897026082012-06-09T14:20:54.264-04:002012-06-09T14:20:54.264-04:00You get another medal for "Best Nonstandard H...You get another medal for "Best Nonstandard Hazard Encounter". Good for you, great ride, great cause and great persevering as the ride got longer and the sun got hotter.nlseibelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152851920399612023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481265.post-682209920339278842012-06-06T13:35:47.104-04:002012-06-06T13:35:47.104-04:00Our local over 50 mile rides are very similar, and...Our local over 50 mile rides are very similar, and it is also (at least partially) why I have avoided them. Unfortunately, they seem to put the hills toward the end of the ride when I'm tired and I have enough trouble getting up them without hitting exhaustion before I even arrive to the climb. I see nothing wrong with walking up a hill though. <br /><br /><i>the coworker asked if I could come ride my bike through his attic</i> I can't help but giggle. :O)G.E.http://endlessvelolove.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481265.post-42067997787346882292012-06-05T15:38:27.819-04:002012-06-05T15:38:27.819-04:00Scott's always getting buzzed by groundhogs an...Scott's always getting buzzed by groundhogs and I usually have to dodge rabbits or deer; those squirrels, though... they're all kinds of crazy! "Tire tread tattoos"... heeheehee!Melanie Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02540747770586922326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481265.post-69767981981579749222012-06-05T15:11:00.675-04:002012-06-05T15:11:00.675-04:00Nice post! And a super picture of you and the meda...Nice post! And a super picture of you and the medal at the end, too. Got a chuckle about the squirrel. What is it with squirrels anyway? Are they genetically suicidal? I think there are two living near my house that have permanent tire tread tattoos under their fur!Marshahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02801219829822677766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481265.post-13283740845999888122012-06-05T14:20:47.106-04:002012-06-05T14:20:47.106-04:00Thank you, Trevor. :)Thank you, Trevor. :)Melanie Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02540747770586922326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481265.post-24463466034335626882012-06-05T13:55:53.439-04:002012-06-05T13:55:53.439-04:00Congratulations....Sounds like a really super ride...Congratulations....Sounds like a really super ride...!!<br />A great post of your event.<br /><br />-TrevorTrevorW�� https://www.blogger.com/profile/13212954091289189979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481265.post-21638554475407069772012-06-05T10:46:40.447-04:002012-06-05T10:46:40.447-04:00Thanks, G.E.! I'm already looking forward to p...Thanks, G.E.! I'm already looking forward to participating in the Tour again next year and maybe even increasing my mileage. I'll need lots of hill training, though, as the >50 routes are extremely hilly. But I'm not too proud to walk if need be. :)<br /><br />My husband thought that my running over a squirrel was the funniest thing ever. When he told his coworker, the coworker asked if I could come ride my bike through his attic. Heh.Melanie Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02540747770586922326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481265.post-34968411822171390202012-06-05T09:46:55.922-04:002012-06-05T09:46:55.922-04:00Congratulations!!!!! You made it through - and not...<b>Congratulations!!!!!</b> You made it through - and not only "through" but you did great and (as it sounds) you enjoyed a great portion of the ride. The hills are always my downfall on long (and short) rides. I'm a fairly competitive person (at least in my mind, even if my body doesn't cooperate), so when I can't get up as fast as I want, it frustrates me to no end. It sounds as though you took it all in stride and enjoyed the downhill on the other side. I will have to channel your calmness about it all the next time I'm faced with a long uphill climb. <br /><br />I don't blame you for sticking around for the pseudo-ceremony. It's a big deal and you should be incredibly proud of yourself. I enjoyed seeing the last shot of you with the medal around your neck too. :O)<br /><br /><i>Somewhere along the way I hit a squirrel. I rode up between pedestrians on either side of the trail and a squirrel darted out. He froze, I dodged, he ran into my dodge, and we both chose poorly. I think I got his tail because there was a solid thudthud under my tires after my "Crap! Crap! Crap!" and before my "AUGH!" I don't know what, if anything, the peds thought about the collision. I'm pretty sure the squirrel was mostly okay. It wasn't dead, anyway.</i><br />I have experienced this (well, fortunately, not the running over part - yet). The squirrels seem to be a little crazy some days and I am waiting for the day that it turns bad (mental note: perhaps a helmet would be good for me after all). One morning I was riding and there were two much faster cyclists coming from the opposite direction and we were arriving simultaneously to a short and narrow wooden bridge. This squirrel was right in the middle of the bridge and couldn't figure out where to go. I actually rang my bell (I think the other cyclists thought I was insane), and it seemed to help. At first he froze, but then he took off to the side of the bridge and ran directly underneath. I've had a few very, very close calls though. I always thought they were fairly good about moving, but perhaps I am incorrect in that assumption as I've had a lot of near misses lately with them. I'm glad that nothing disastrous happened to you while riding, and hopefully the squirrel survived relatively unscathed. <br /><br />Congrats again on a great ride! Hopefully, you recover quickly and are out riding again soon.G.E.http://endlessvelolove.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com