Ridding the Buffalo

Today I got a chance to actually get out and ride my bike FOR FUN! It has got to be more than a month since I last got a chance to go ride more than just my measly little mile and a half round trip commute. But with temperatures in the low 60's and an afternoon free how could I not! So I met up with one of my girlfriends and we set out to ride over Buffalo Mountain.

See that mountain covered in snow in the distance? That's Buffalo Mountain in the Cherokee National Forest. It's an absolutely gorgeous ride on a fairly low traffic road through the park. It's also a popular ride for area cyclists and motorcyclists. Here's a link to the route and elevation chart on Map My Ride. I got so wrapped up in enjoying the ride that I didn't take many pictures, but here's a few:

I really want to climb out on the end of that rock and just watch the river flow by.

The other side of Buffalo Mountain, over the Nolichcky River.

We came into this valley on a road that follows the river. Here's Mlle Moto getting some love from Shadowfax. :)

DIY: Saddle Cover From an Old Raincoat

Here's a quick little DIY waterproof saddle cover for you.

Materials:

Old vinyl raincoat
Thread
Elastic (1/4 inch)
Sewing Machine
Sharpie marker
Big safety pin

Lay your old raincoat out and place your saddle on it top down.

Trace around your saddle about 4 1/2 inch out from the sides (more at the back end if you have springs you want to cover).

Cut out and fold edges in about 1/2 inch, Sew down to make a casing for the elastic. Leave about a 2 inch open space at the back for threading your elastic through.

Measure around your saddle cover and cut a piece of elastic 2 inches shorter than your measurement.

Attach your safety pin to one end of the elastic and work it through the casing. Once through, sew the two ends together.

Your saddle cover should scrunch up like a shower cap now. All thats left is to sew up the hole! You can seal the seam with some wax if you want. I never did and have not had any problems with water seeping through.

I've been using this saddle cover for well over a year now. It's been through heavy rains, snows, sleet and freezing rain, summer heat and everything else that it can possibly be exposed to sitting outdoors all day. It's held up wonderfully!

DIY Cycling Cap

It's been awhile since I shared a DIY project, so I thought that I would start new year off a new hat! I've been collecting both hat patterns and scrap fabric, and came across this hem from a skirt that had just enough to make this cycling cap from Dude Craft.  This is a really easy FREE pattern.

Cute, eh? And it's lined too!

So go get you some scrap fabric (old pants and shirts, sport coats, curtains, etc. Thrift shops are great places to find fabric for cheap!). You'll also need 3/4" twill tape (long enough to go around your head + and inch or two to be on the safe side), about 3" of 1/2" elastic and either a thin plastic binder or a yogurt (or similar) container for the brim. This makes a great weekend project for those weekends that you aren't out there riding. ;)