A lovely out and back last night; west on Kirby until just past Bondville Road. It's a really good idea when you've got a wiiide range of riders. Those of us at the back could turn around when we wanted to - which didn't have anything to do with sundown or speed, but just that we'd gone far enough into the wind, thank you, and it was time to turn around. We did about 12 miles, about 11 mph. Other people did more.

May 19 - Success!

To tolono and back; averaged about 10 mph. Everybody made it all the way :)
Learning slowly: stop and check!! Okay, I checked tyres at the beginning; no mush. Still, that back rider was working awfully harde... but I waited 'til Tolono to look and see that, indeed, those brake pads were awfully snug... Pick up bike. Spin wheel. Watch it stop.
It took some tools and knowledge but we got at least another mm or two of clearance - a much easier ride back.
All it takes is picking up the wheel and spinning. Do it!!!

(Um, yes, I need to do it myself, too.)

St. Joseph... too far?

... Today the wind was a peppy 12 mph or so from the North. This is the toughest direction to deal with because the route options are limited. St. Joe is the usual choice - but it's 22 miles, and it means heading straight out Windsor Road until you can't go any further, and there's not *really* a good breaking point ... except we should have pulled in where we sometimes do anyway. There were 22 in the group and I started out in front ... by the time I dropped to the back the newest couple had already turned around and gone back :( (Our speed, for the record, was roughly 10.5 mph to their 9... so, alas, the gap was widening.)
Lesson learned: I'll have somebody else start (tho' that carries the risk that people go faster), and if it's St. Joe will make sure folks know that the stopping point is well over halfway to the halfway point.
Good news is that the other new folks had a grand time; a group broke off for HOmer Lake and another group did the 25 mile version but came back faster. Weather was gorgeous - *very* sunny (SPF 40 :)) and the wind below the predicted bluster.
I am hoping the folks who went back will come back to, perhaps, the shorter Tuesday ride and try again...