Cycle 365

It has rained practically every day for almost two weeks, and more rain is forecast for tonight and beyond, but today should be dry. That means I need to mount up and pedal out the Greenway to see how Santa Rosa Creek is doing…. More at Bill Bikes Post Views: 1,246 Bill StoneThey call me … Continue reading "It’s sugar for sugar and salt for salt"

I got back from my monthly trip to Iowa yesterday. I was down there for five days this time instead of the usual two days. In addition to his cancer treatments, now my dad has some cardiac issues to be dealt with, including a valve replacement surgery. That means quite a few more trips to … Continue reading "Waterfalls and the Aftermath of a Winter Storm"

Forecast for today and next nine days in Santa Rosa. Gotta get a hydro-bike. Post Views: 20

No waterfalls yet, but we didn’t get rained on either. And if you don’t know what to take a picture of, a selfie is always good in a pinch. Again I didn’t need my heated gloves. Today we had 9C/48F which didn’t feel that warm with the cold wind blowing. I was glad to get … Continue reading "January Challenge day 4"

Well, as you can see, it was a rainy day. I wasn’t willing to face a ride to tai chi at 8 a.m. Janos drove me. I’m getting soft, or softer. But in my defense, I did get on my bike for an afternoon ride, 6C/44C, and threatening rain. Janos declined the invitation to join … Continue reading "January Challenge day 3"

We are still having exceptionally warm weather, around 16C/60F, and although I have removed a couple of layers from my cycling outfit I am still over dressed because I never quite believe it could be that warm. But I would rather be too warm than too cold any day. I was expecting the forest paths … Continue reading "January Challenge 1 and 2"

Days of rain behind us. Days of rain ahead of us. But today is dry and sunny. Happy New Year! Post Views: 23

Not only will I be displaying scenes FROM the trails, there will also be photos OF the trails themselves. What more could anybody ask for? My New Year’s resolution this year, as it has been every year since about 1990, was to ride my bike on the first day of the year. Beyond that, I … Continue reading "Scenes From MY Town’s Trails"

Way too wet to ride today, but here are my favorite bicycling photos of 2022. Happy New Year! Post Views: 24

With temperatures in the 40s (F), it doesn’t exactly feel like a usual New Year’s Eve here in Vermont. In the photo above, it doesn’t look like a typical idyllic Vermont mid-winter scene; more like our usual muddy March. Still nice to get out for a ride on the last day of the year though. … Continue reading "Last Ride of 2022"

It’s been a great Cycle365 year. Everyone’s pictures were great. Everyone’s bike rides were great. The stories were great. The exchanges of comments were great. Rich’s monthly challenge leadership was great. And all of you Cycle365-ers were great. HERE’S TO AN EVEN GREATER 2023! Post Views: 22

May 2023 bring many happy biking days, smiles and blue skies! My recap for December is HERE. Post Views: 38

Wishing All the Best to Everyone!! Its been a great time following everyone with their cycling adventures Particularly since everyone has such beautiful places to cycle and interesting things to see Looking forward to 2023 and your riding adventures The year in review/stats Post Views: 22

For most of us, riding in January IS a challenge Just back from a ride across town, around the park, and home — first time out in many days — the weather was just uggsome (technical meteorological term)   but any ride is better than no ride  at all  🙂 Initially, the January Challenge is to … Continue reading "January Challenge(s)"

No snow or giant icicles hereabouts. Just rain, with more on the way. Perfect for newts, apparently. Post Views: 58

I opened up Cycle365 this morning and saw DJG’s “Quick Morning Spin” post. The pictures of free-flowing waterfalls reminded me that I should have ridden to our local waterfall for a quick look. That’s what I did this morning. Sure enough, the Vermillion River falls was frozen. Post Views: 26

And let me tell you, it felt great to get back on The Reckless Mr. Bing Bong after about eight days. I think it was my longest cycling hiatus in the last decade and I really have no excuse other than that I seem to have gotten a bit lazy in the last year. Sure, … Continue reading "I’M BACK IN THE BICYCLING BUSINESS"

Wishing you all, dear Friends, a jolly and festive Christmas, and for the New Year everything that a cyclist loves, above all time, health and good weather for many miles on the bicycle. Post Views: 28

To start the new season we had 8C/46F, a warm föhn wind was blowing and there were just a few patches of snow here and there in the fields. When we have föhn, the Alps are very clear on the horizon, but too far away for a decent picture. In the picture on top they … Continue reading "Warm Winter Weather"

Stormy weather expected for the next couple days, so I got out for a Greg-style ride on the shortest day of the year. I think the solstice here is officially at 4:47 PM, so I’m a few hours early. Note that long shadow above. Post Views: 44

After two weeks of sub-freezing temperatures and lots of snow, we had 4C today and the roads looked safe enough for me to get back on my bicycle. In the morning I wasn’t sure that all the paths on my way to tai chi would be cleared, so I didn’t ride there, but in the … Continue reading "Snow free"

We had a few afternoons that got slightly above freezing this week. As a result, some of our snow melted and the roadsides were getting pretty dirty from cars spewing sand, mud and exhaust fumes. Eight inches of new snow over the last couple of days cured that situation. Not only did the new snow … Continue reading "A World of White"

It’s been snowing on and off for two days, but I wasn’t planning to ride my bike anyway. It’s probably a good thing that I am being forced to walk for a change. I got some pictures for Christmas, too. Post Views: 24

HERE is my choice of pictures for the month. I’ll do anything to avoid cars in my photos so one got a major transformation in Photoshop. Guess which one. Post Views: 21

First of all I want to thank everyone for the interest and positive reaction to my post about the heated gloves. I was thinking this was perhaps just another “wimpy Suzanne has just bought another gadget” thing. But I’m glad I overcame my self-doubts and took a constructive approach. There were some questions that I’ll … Continue reading "The gloves, the hands and the wrist"

A few nights ago, I attended a Live Nativity here in MY Town. It was pretty cool, and I think I was able find half of the items on Rich’s Christmas checklist in this one experience. After that, I continued riding, took a few more pictures, and checked off another 25% of the list. All … Continue reading "Most of My December Riding Has Involved Grocery Shopping and Running Errands. Yet, I’ve got THIS to Share."

I bought heated gloves! They have little wires (I think that’s how it works) that go to the fingertips and tip of the thumb, too, and they are powered by a rechargeable battery that is in a zip pocket in the cuff. They are quite thick, perhaps a problem when working my camera with them … Continue reading "Warm hands – kinda"

Santa Claus is coming to town … I got an ear worm after taking that picture. It was pretty cold for my standards, around freezing. Still have to find a better solution for my hands. Nevertheless, I did a little asphalt loop, no muddy paths in the forest these days, and got two pictures. Wasn’t … Continue reading "Santa is coming"

  It was just as cloudy, cold, windy, and miserable as it looks Strong wind from the south was generally a crosswind, so would not be all that bad riding west/east Winds predicted up to 40mph and they were getting a good start Nevertheless, Raleigh heads across town to the park to see what might … Continue reading "December Challenge 1"

As depicted in the featured photo, I am still mired in a complete renovation of the lower level of our home. Not that I’m doing any of the work, but I’ll still use that as the main excuse for my absence on Cycle365 recently. I’m still riding a few miles every day, but I just … Continue reading "Winter Is Coming, Part II (The Sequel to the Santa Rosa Version of “Winter is Coming,” by Old Grumbleface.)"

Not exactly Hastings-like weather conditions, but cold wind from the north brought blizzards of falling leaves and a little chill to the air.  Post Views: 30

Just saying hello. No Thanksgiving decorations here since it’s not a holiday. But since I have lived in Germany (I came in 1962) I have kept the tradition alive. We are celebrating a big family Thanksgiving on Sunday. Turkey with all the trimmings for 15 people. Yikes, I hope the preparations don’t keep me off … Continue reading "Happy Thanksgiving!"

Go get the stuffing, cranberry sauce, and giant pumpkin pie. Post Views: 55

Holiday Challenge hosted by Nancy With Thanksgiving just a few days away lets participate in Nancy’s Holiday Challenge Anything and Everything Thanksgiving related counts Thank You Nancy!! Not forgetting CRANKSGIVING —  participating in a food drive for local pantries via bicycle Iowa PBS Presents | Bike People: Holiday and Winter Riding (#113) | KPBS Cranksgiving … Continue reading "November Challenge Subset"

Warning, danger, and no parking either. Bonus: Eilen Jewell sings Warning Signs Post Views: 22

Over the course of two days, I collected a treasure trove of November Challenge pictures. Here they are for you to like, dislike, hate, make fun of, or report to the police: Post Views: 38

That’s a half a year! I have been remiss. I was still collecting the pictures and putting them on my website, sort of, but I never got around to posting the link to the months here on Cycle365. I guess I am getting lazy, or else have better things to do. Anyway, the last two … Continue reading "Cycle Days Challenge: May, June, July, August, September, October 2022"

Two days ago we got back from our little four-day bike trip in the border land of Germany and Czechia (and I still haven’t gotten past day one in my journal on CycleBlaze). Here are some pictures that I took for our challenge. I discovered that the Google Translator app will translate text that you … Continue reading "Achtung! Pozor! Danger!"

The North Fork Conservation Club doesn’t appear to be an inviting place if you are not a member Except on Saturdays — weekly fish fry invites the public Several Warnings Blurry little sign on the pole:  No Dumping Allowed Small print at the bottom:  “Do not remove or damage under severe penalty” Proceed slowly with … Continue reading "November Challenge"

…want to ride with Nancy and Suzanne. Post Views: 22

November Challenge Part 1 Gefhar!!!  Warnung!!! That would be Danger and Warning in German Thanks again to Suzanne for suggesting this topic We are looking for Danger/Warning signs Include your bicycle when practical to do so The sign above threatens Prosecution — or as two youngsters in southern Illinois once said to a trespasser , … Continue reading "November Challenge"

A beautiful day for late October in Illinois 68F and light winds Photos HERE Post Views: 28

Not to be outdone by Rich, Greg and Old Grumbleface, I got a picture of Nancy and Suzanne out for a little pre-Halloween ride. They aren’t racing though, just having a nice chat at they pedal along. p.s. Picture found on the web Post Views: 35

Today I pedaled south to Moonstone Beach and Cambria, then turned inland, leaving the ocean behind for a while. Like yesterday’s ride, today the Ogre took me to a few places where I’ve pedaled before, as well as some previously unknown roads…. Read more at Bill Bikes Post Views: 25

Greg in the lead, then Rich, with Old Grumble-Face bringing trailing behind. Post Views: 23

Time to get away with the Ogre for a couple of days. After much consideration, I chose to drive down to Cambria on the central coast. I haven’t been there in years, and it’s a good spot for pedaling along the shore of the Pacific Ocean. The weather should be pleasant, but with strong wind … Continue reading "San Simeon"

Halloween isn’t a big thing here. I thought I’d be lucky if I found a few Jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins yes, but not carved ones. Lo and behold on my way to Munich on a road that I seldom ride, I came across a house with Halloween decorations out front. To make up for the lack of … Continue reading "Ghosts and Toadstools"

I’ve been in a ‘fly on the wall’ mode recently, just happy to appreciate other bloggers efforts, the family lazy gene is totally responsible again for my procrastination. Well, I’ve got a few challenges due and some photos in the mobile phone so I’ll do my best. The featured image is of a few handmade … Continue reading "Springtime, some catching up to do"

Didn’t need to go far for this. Just around the corner. Post Views: 57