roadskater.net

This image was uploaded with the post Country Park Friends, Skate Fascination, Schwinn Logos, Making it Look Easy Without Realizing it.

This image was uploaded with the post Country Park Friends, Skate Fascination, Schwinn Logos, Making it Look Easy Without Realizing it.

On Sunday I was still feeling good after 35 miles with pals checking out the Carolina Century western loop. But it has been a bit of a struggle of late to get everything done (OK to get half of it done) that I would love to do for Tour to Tanglewood, roadskating and the Carolina Century, plus junk I just have to deal with in real life...like getting a little exercise and a host of other not nearly as fun tasks.

This image was uploaded with the post Photos of the 37th Annual Carolina Cup Bicycle Races 2009 in Greensboro Country Park Greensboro NC.

This image was uploaded with the post Photos of the 37th Annual Carolina Cup Bicycle Races 2009 in Greensboro Country Park Greensboro NC.

This image was uploaded with the post Photos of the 37th Annual Carolina Cup Bicycle Races 2009 in Greensboro Country Park Greensboro NC.

After an awesome Saturday morning roadskating the improved course for the 43-mile route of the Bicycle Toy & Hobby Tour to Tanglewood Training Ride in High Point, sleeping late Sunday was nice. But we knew the Carolina Cup Bicycle Races were going on at Greensboro Country Park, so we got going and made it up in time for the last three big events. I also had a phone call related to the NC Active Transportation Alliance (http://ncactive.org), so for a while I was on the phone and photographing at the same time. Yowee.

This image was uploaded with the post Photos and Maps for Paceline Bicycles Greensboro Tour to Tanglewood Training Ride Inline Skate 2009 Plus Country Park.

This image was uploaded with the post Photos and Maps for Paceline Bicycles Greensboro Tour to Tanglewood Training Ride Inline Skate 2009 Plus Country Park.

We had five Roadskater.net skaters and at least one Roadskater.net cyclist at the Greensboro Paceline Bicycles training ride for T2T. It was a nice day out with no rain but plenty of shade for much of the time. All five of us went for the longer, 29-mile, option, wishing for a bit more, even.

Location

Dale put up a site for the ride. He says rest stops will stay open as long as the paying customers are out. That's good after last year's Tour de Guilford had a rest stop on a spur (extra skating and cycling required off the main course) and when we arrived they had checked out. Admittedly we were slow that day, but had paid and there was no posted cutoff time on that one. It won't be a problem at this ride, I'm confident.

My legs were tired and a wall of rain was on the way, but somehow I got out to Greensboro Country Park in time for 10 miles or so before dark, and almost before the display of lightning flashes that had me worried more than usual about getting zapped. I saw no way my 100mm wheels would protect me from a spark arc.

First off, thanks to everyone for your supportive comments and interest. The 58.3 mile in 5:29 went off without a hitch, excepting a soreness on the ball of my left foot. I don't have all the vitals from my Forerunner 305 on hand, but will post those soon. I started off at 6:45 am from the lower parking lot at Country Park, which proved to be fortuitous as the heat and humidity really started to assert themselves at my 12:15 p finishing time.

Just a brief note to say how wonderful it was to be skating again. I was away due to acute lack of inspiration and laziness as opposed to having a real reason. Bottom line: no excuses.

Teamed up with Blake, Tim, and Andrew at Country Park in Greensboro on Tues. eve and it was wonderful. Everytime I leave for a while and come back, I always wonder why I ever did, leave that is. We all did 7 or 8 laps, talked skating, Garmin 305s, various park attractions, and all the other things that make for endorphin induced grins.

Location

We're considering this one. Likely the 34. Call any time before
midnight or after 7a for confirmation if it matters whether we're
there. Inexpensive and likely to be a relaxed group. Starts at Country
Park!

Note: it's not easy to skwalk from the road to the shelter, so skaters and those who love their cleats obsessively may want to walk over in street shoes to register before donning the gear.

Registration begins at 8a.

Skateylove.

===== This from a note from member, John H.

This is just a quick note about skating in the wind and cool (for the southern USA) temperatures on Sunday. I was only out for a little over a half hour, but I'd say gusts were over 30 mph.

Earlier in the day things had been blowing around stiffly, and some noted shingles were blowing about in places. Here at the skate hovel the large city-supplied garbage can was rolled and skidded about 15 feet from its usual position across somewhat rough ground (this is the newer, lighter version of the green Greensboro City residential trash can).

I guess the thing I'd like to see happen for me in 2008 would be for double pushing to just be a natural part of my skating whenever it is the most efficient way to go. Making it more efficient and thus more useful more of the time would be the key. I'd like it to be a tool, or a couple of tools, that I can use involuntarily, I guess you'd say. I'd like it to be like shifting gears in the car without thinking.

This is a quick first hack at getting some 2007 photo links over to the new Roadskater.net from RSN Classic (rsn1.net). There will be much more later, and I won't even go into it all now. It's been "in the works" (meaning in my brain) for almost two years now. I don't want to do it until I can do it "right," and the way I want it to look.

During a weekend full of fun and necessary preparations for the Tour to Tanglewood next week, plus with some birthday cake and 28 miles of skating loops at Greensboro Country Park on Saturday, we ended up back out at the park on Sunday afternoon for the Pro/1/2, Women's Open and the start of the Senior Cat 3 bicycle races. We walked the 1.65 mile loop in the opposite direction of the racers and took photos as we ambled along.

Dale Brown of Cycles de Oro posted some comments about riding safely in Greensboro Country Park after hearing some complaints relayed by Parks and Recreation. Let me add my thoughts and include cycling, inline skating, skateboarding and running. Any time you're faster than others, they need your help with safety. And any time you're in a smaller group, it's a good idea to strive to be worthy of the good will and respect of the larger one, in my view.