Rotor 3D Crank and Q-Rings Shake Down Cruise

A nice but cold day on the bike. First ride with the new Rotor 3D+ Crank and the elliptical Q-Rings. Took only a few minutes to get accustomed to riding on rings that aren't round. Had nice rest stops at Randi's for some hot chocolate to warm me back up, and at the Tri360 and Freshbikes bike shops. There were some flurries when I started and in the middle but there was full-on snow that was sticking by the time I left Freshbikes for the final 3 miles home. A little bit challenging but still fun riding in the snow. Best news is that I didn't have any belly pain riding up hills. Looks like I'm finally healed.
Rotor 3D Crank and Q-Rings Shake Down Cruise by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

Starting out.

Time for hot chocolate at Randi's.

The Tri360 shop. Nice toys here.

Ruby and I covered in snow finally arrive at home.

NOVA-CBG BBQ Ride

First ride back after surgery in October. Attempted the 55 mile version from Shirlington to Ashburn for Carolina Brothers BBQ. Felt good but didn't have any power and had a little belly pain when climbing up hills. Decided to turn back once I crossed into Falls Church. But all was not lost. I drove out to Ashburn and met the group for lunch. Actually got there right as they were arriving so timing was perfect. A bit crisp and damp but overall not a bad day. Glad to be back in the saddle again. Now looking forward to Boot Camp ride tomorrow.


NOVA-CBG BBQ Ride by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

Christmas 2012

Dear Friends,

It’s Christmas Eve and again this procrastinator is just now getting around to writing the Christmas letter. So I’m not late, yet. Here’s this year’s update.

My health has been good this year. All of my cancer follow-up screenings have yielded good results. I never tire of those good reports. My ankle has healed well after 2011’s little oopsie that resulted in screws and plates.  The only health SNAFU is that due to some complications, I had to have surgery in October to convert my ostomy from temporary to permanent, which though not unexpected, was earlier than I had planned. Surgery went very well but it has taken a good six to eight weeks to recover and I’m still not 100%. The upside is that I’ve lost almost 15 pounds. It’s not the recommended weight loss method but hey, I’ll take it.

The kittens—Eeyore, Tigger, and Roo—have grown up into cats. They’re still skittish and won’t dare show their faces whenever anyone comes to visit, but they are quite cute when it’s just us. I’m enjoying having little buddies at home to greet me and keep me company. And I sometimes see little glimpses of Kelly and WOC in their behavior.

Roo

Eeyore

Tigger

I continued to volunteer and fundraise this year with the Fuller Center. I decided to try again and rode as part of the Fuller Center Bike Adventure and cycled from Daytona Beach to Key West during the last week in June. This ride was certainly flatter than last year’s ride from Columbus to DC but we were pummeled by Tropical Storm Debby for the first three days. But the ride through the Keys was really a lot of fun and I spent a couple of days after the ride was over to explore Key West. The money I raised through the ride was used in this year’s Legacy Build in La Florida, Peru. I spent a week in Peru in September building masonry houses. I was able to sponsor two of the ten homes built and one of those two was made possible through the Bike Adventure funds. It was a wonderful week spent with great friends, old and new, and at the end, ten very deserving families had new, simple, safe, decent, affordable homes to call their own. And I got to make friends with my little buddy, Difreth. If I could have taken him home with me, I would have, but luckily he has a wonderful, loving family in Peru.

Hope all of you are doing well. Best wishes for Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year.

Karen, Eeyore, Tigger, and Roo

NOVA-CBG Purcellville Fall Foliage Ride

Post on yesterday's group ride:
Cool, crisp morning. Had a chill in the air all day. Had a good ride out to Purcellville but my left knee starting hurting like a big dog on the ride back, so much so that I couldn't pedal under power with my left leg, so I unclipped and pedaled with just one leg for as long as I could. Stopped at Carolina Brothers on the way back but couldn't go on beyond that. Didn't get the "complete" W&OD completed but did log a fair number of miles even so. And thanks to Sam for giving me a ride home since I couldn't bike home. And those Mojitos at Clyde's and then the Carlyle certainly helped to ease the pain.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/233109538

2012 Seagull Century (Assateague Course)

Post on yesterday's Seagull Century.
Absolutely fabulous ride on the Assateague Course at the Seagull Century. Weather was perfect: 60+ at the start and got into the 70s, maybe 80, during the day. I was spinning like a big dog all day and felt great throughout. Averaged 15.5 mph for the first 60+ to Assateague Island and 14.5 mph over the entire course. Caught some headwind between Assateague and the VFW rest stop in Powellville at Mile 84. Got ensconced in a big paceline during that leg that pulled me along for a good 5 or 6 miles. Caught some horizontal rain and wind between miles 93 and 95.5, which seemed fitting since that is what the Seagull is known for. And I did a lot of drafting wherever I could off of whatever was available, including comfort bikes, tandems, and recumbents. I wasn't picky: if it was moving at about my speed or faster, I hooked myself on for a while until I either slingshot past or fell off. It was unreal. Probably my best day on the bike, EVER! And it was great riding with Sharon and Andrea. First century for both of them and they did a great job. We all rode across the finish line together. What a great day! Can't wait for next year.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/231092977