warm up for betty season '06!

it's never too early to start getting in shape for the 2006 betty season! jane and ginny have come up with two great ways to help us do it.

spinning at towpath bike. thanks to ginny, this has been happening every thursday pretty much all winter long. this reporter has yet to attend, but she's heard that ginny kicks ASS. scott at towpath has been nice enough to set aside an area of the shop with trainers and motivational videos (hmmmm, what could those be i wonder?). spinning starts at 7:30, but ginny advises everyone to get there early to set up your bike.

fundraiser century. play hooky, break in your bike legs and feel good--all at the same time. (well, at least until the next day.) jane invites all bettys to participate in a century ride to benefit the center for missing and exploited children on friday, may 19. details and registration here.

and here's another upcoming event you might like to check out:

Genesee Waterways Center presents: Biking Across the United States: the Challenges of a Legally Blind Person. In 2001, Jarret Lobb, who is legally blind, pedaled 2984 miles from Seattle to Rochester, in just 39 days on a tandem bike. Come hear Jarret explain how this trek was accomplished, the many lessons learned and his adventures along the way.

Location: Genesee Waterways Center, 149 Elmwood Ave, in Genesee Valley Parkjust south of the city ice rink. Date: March 22Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $5/person, children under 12 free. Seating limited, reservations appreciated. Call 328-3960 for info.

as always, if you have any other news to share, please feel free to post it. not yet a contributor on the betty blog? just send an email to me or comment here and i'll send you an email to get you set up and posting in no time!

what betties do when they can't bike

considering the temperature today is an unbelievable 50 degrees, there is little excuse for not biking...except for the fact that seven of us are headed to ski camp next week! the above is a picture of the woman we will be skiing with. or maybe i should say trying to keep up with. stay tuned for the report from grand targhee!

BikeBlog: TWU strike? Ride a bike.

this guy may be a little nuts, but we betties just love a nut, don't we? especially when it's a nut on a bike. make that an opinionated nut on a bike. rant on bro!

xmas betty

hey, the xmas betty party is coming up thursday, december 15, location TBD.

I didn't know they taught this in Girl Scouts

PA060009
Originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

Last night, we girls did a little of what we do best. Wait - you thought that was riding bikes? No. We had a party! Thanks, Anne!

During the course of the evening, Ginny had an opportunity to demonstrate what to do when molten wax threatens to engulf the buffet.

I think we were all pretty impressed.

Grape Betty coming up

Next weekend is the Naples Grape Festival, and traditionally the Bettys have hosted a ride around Canandaigua Lake on the Sunday, with a stop in Naples for grape pie, and a picnic at the end at Kershaw Park. We’ve been fortunate to have good weather each year, and hopefully this year won’t be any different.



Several folks from other cycling clubs and events have joined us in the past, some coming from Syracuse, Buffalo and beyond. Let’s start a little later this year to give those from out of town a chance to join us.

In the past we’ve parked in the Kershaw Park parking lot but I’m suggesting we park in the parking lot behind McGregors – it’s the old Wegman’s parking lot, and it’s access is just before McGregors, on the left. Drive as though you were going to Kershaw Park and you’ll see McGregor’s on your left, across from the Canandaigua Inn. This way we are taking up lots of parking spaces in the Kershaw lot.

The route we’ve taken is down the west side and up the east side, and that seems to work for everyone. There are a few alternatives along the way we’ll share before we start that make the ride even nicer. This route is about 45-48 miles, with two long climbs (Miller Hill and the climb out of Middlesex). For those who want to add miles, I’m researching some alternatives to add 10+ miles before Naples so that we can all meet up in Naples for the ride back. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

We’ll try to leave on time so if you are running late please call Ginny (585-314-7364) so we’ll know to wait for you.

So here are the details:

Sunday, September 25
10:00am
Parking lot behind McGregor’s (old Wegman’s lot)
Bring food for a picnic at Kershaw Park at the end of the ride if you like!

Another Betty field trip!

Let's have another Betty party at Gidget's (Susan's) house, 41 Oak Meadow Trail in Pittsford on Thursday August 25, 6pm.

We will do a 16ish mile ride and return for a pool party (how's 92 degrees?) and/or food! Promise fun, drinks and the famous cherry cake!!!

For info, directions, etc., email slatoski@rochester.rr.com.

Kelly ride on August 11

This Thursday, August 11, the Betty ride will be from Kelly's house in Pittsford. There will be food and drinks after, along with a swim, so bring your suit! Email Kelly for details & directions: Kelly_Likly@URMC.Rochester.edu

A most memorable Betty

That's about all I can say about the last Betty ride from Barb's house. Actually, I can't say anything about the ride itself since I got there late. The Sisters Rosenberg put out a wonderful post-ride spread of large pizza pies from Pontillo's and a huge buttercream cake from Weggie's.

And, since it was the hottest day of the year, of course there was swimming in Barb's pool. Or was it an oversized hot tub? I'm not sure, since Barb had the heater cranked to 90 degrees.

Other than that, all I can say is be sure to ask Lydia about her swan diving technique.

if it is dessert, we will find it

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Originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

Kate, Gidget and I rode from Caledonia down to Wyoming, the Gaslight Village, yesterday. (Luckily for us) nothing but nothing was open. We decided on the off chance to call the well-known Hillside Inn, and they were serving lunch! Yay! But not so yay: they are at the top (not on the side) of a really - big - hill. By the time we reached it, we desrved that exquisite Key lime Pie with raspberry purée. Oh my goodness. The actual lunch was good too, though it involved shrimp, which Gidget regretted on the ride home.

This place was great! The rooms were very, very beautiful. Take your husband! For more pictures, click here.

Row your boat!

Any Bettys interested in taking a "Learn to Row" class? It's offered by Adventure Out!, a local company that offers fitness classes & excursions specifically geared to us chicks!

They offer all kinds of stuff...kayaking, snowshoeing, rowing, nordic walking, etc. They also have fun, one-time girls nights out, like Pilates in the Park at Mendon Ponds, followed by shopping, to name one.

There is a rowing session underway for August and another one coming up in September. Exact dates are TBD, but it would be a seven-week course.

Click here for details!

That's hot

Another great turnout last night with 14 Bettys, including two newbies Marget and Tricia. It was hot, hot, hot. So thank heavens for Lydia's post-ride tip, "The Whore Bath:" Face, Pits & Crotch. A semi-clean paper towel or Purell moist towelette will do the trick smartly. Or shall we say "tartly."

Artsy fartsy Lancy

A very cool story about Lance's one-of-a-kind time trial bike.

I love Bob Roll

I love how he says "Tour DAY France," and how those two English guys cringe every time does.

It's hard to imagine this guy actually was a tour rider himself in the olden days. On the incredulity scale, it's right up there with imagining Archie Bunker as a tour rider.

Al Trautwig asks him if he thinks the riders notice the faces of the spectators as they fly by them. This reminds Bob of a story (I love it when Bob tells stories). He thought he was hallucinating when, out of the corner of his eye, he spied a bear along the side of the road. Turns out there really was a circus in town with a dancing bear.

I love Bob Roll.

Sweet Seventeen

A record 17 Bettys showed up for last night's ride, including new riders Lynn and Jackie. Also, it was great to see Mara and Paula. We even had a Towpath drive-by from Jen, who we haven't seen in way too long. Props to Sally for braving her new eggbeaters without a single crash.

No Parrish Hill this week, but we did manage to squeak out 30 miles before sundown. All the better to consume large quantities of chicklaki, chocolate blackout cake, and Miller Light.

Next week: anybody up for a change of scenery? Ginny has offered to lead us on a tour of the Fairport/Egypt countryside. Stop back for details.

It's Andrea's Birthday, but Dennis Takes the Cake

betty birthday cake
Originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

Last night, the Betties took the Cascade District by storm. The ride was long and gorgeous, and afterward we were treated to some of the finest eats many of us have had in a long time. Oh, yum! Thank you, Andrea, for having a birthday. And a husband who really cooks!

Here's mud in yer eye

All dirty, all the time
Originally uploaded by hitbyabus.

Amy The $6 Million Woman Austin and Paula Dyba from Terry just completed a 24-hour mountain bike marathon. Hey girls...we want the dirt!

A pack of Bettys

Click here for a good article on how to ride in a pack.

Pass the butt balm

DSCF7313
Originally uploaded by freetoeknee.

It's about ten o'clock in the evening and I'm finishing dinner at a cool Chicago restaurant on West Randolph when all of a sudden I notice a stream of cyclists passing by outside.

They just keep coming and coming...and it dawns on me...Hey! They're all wearing flesh-colored jerseys...so my friend and I run outside for a look...and I'm like, wait a sec...those...aren't...flesh...colored...jerseys...HOLY SHIT!

At this point, one of them stands up on his bike and gives us a full frontal.

Of course, I googled naked chicago bike ride and it turns out it's an annual thing. Worldwide. To protest oil consumption and celebrate the human form and yada yada yada.

Tour de Bar Elvis pales in comparison!

Great ride tonight

images
Originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

All the way from the car up to the shop and back down again! Whew! Must admit, I feel fuller than usual tonight. Hmmm....