My longest ride yet... :)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well I just had to crow today a little bit, I set a new distance record for myself. :) Actually it was my DH's longest ride ever as well...70 miles!

We intended a 62 mile or so ride- our previous longest was 52 miles a couple of weeks ago.
Started out after a hearty breakfast and rode through many little towns and through many farms and wooded roads too, mostly rolling hills. It really was a beautiful ride through the countryside. The weather was just right- partly cloudy, about 75-80 degrees F, and breezy. Showers threatened but never happened. Car drivers were generally safe and courteous today.

Once we stopped to rest at a farm stand and ate all the wonderful juicy fresh strawberries we could manage to stuff down. :p . Later in the day we stopped at a little coffee place and gratefully rested our behinds for a while in real chairs and ate ice cream.

We took a minor wrong turn on the way back, which added a few miles, so by the time we got home about 9 hours after starting, we had gone 70 miles! :eek: :eek: :p :p

My gosh, but it was a LONG ride! I can't imagine doing a whole century just yet. (though today's ride was 10 miles longer than a "metric century"...of 100K) You ladies who do 100 mile rides are amazing!!

I actually felt just great right up until the last 15 miles or so, when I started getting tired and kind of sore all over my body. I can tell I will probably be quite sore tomorrow. I had planned a 35 mile group ride tomorrow, but I think I will rest instead! :rolleyes:
But generally, I felt quite good during the first 55 miles, which amazed me, considering I am 53 and have only been biking for a year now. My Brooks saddle was fine, butt felt fine, legs, shoulders, neck, hands, etc. My Shebeest Ultra-D shorts were great. Seems I have finally gotten my bike fit dialed in nicely, after a year of tweaking things. :p

All you ladies on TE are a constant inspiration to me to keep improving my biking abilities and my fitness. I especially thought of Trek today as I rode, and the amazing effort and determination she has shown during this whole past week of grueling riding in her charity ride event. Yay Trek- enjoy your well-earned rest now! :)

[silver]

Congrats to you Lisa and DH too! It's one thing to meet a goal...it's another to exceed it instead;)

[Mr. Bloom]

Congrats to you Lisa and DH too! It's one thing to meet a goal...it's another to exceed it instead;)

Ooops...that was me saying that. Wrong sign on! ALthough I'm sure I speak for Silver as well.:D :D

[Alex]

Good for you, Lisa! A personal best AND such a civilized way to do it. Strawberries and ice cream. Yum! Sure beats the Sport Beans I tried today. ;)

Alex

[Fredwina]

woohoo!!!!:D

[silver]

Haha! I went to give you a Way to GO, Lisa! and I already have! Well, here's another one to you! You rock! You are such an inspiration to me!!!!! :)

[BikerJen]

Way to go! I'm jealous. I need someone to hang out and bike with otherwise I'm Jen-Solo all the time :rolleyes:

[RoadRaven]

Well done Lise... 70 miles is nothing to sniff at... and over rolling hills too.

My longest ride is a metric century, and I did that over flat...

Well impressed. :)

[SouthernBelle]

Remember ibuprofen is your friend. ;) Good job.

[Mr. Bloom]

Remember ibuprofen is your friend.

But only afterward...never take ibuprofen before an endurance activity...hyponatremia risk.

...Biofreeze is your friend too!

And Similisan Allergy Relief Drops for the eyes!

[Velobambina]

Lisa--Way to go! Sounds like a perfect ride and of course, a superb accomplishment. Hope you aren't too sore today.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks for the words of encouragement, you guys! They really mean a lot to me. :)

Silver- Me and inspiration to you?? Um, I thought it was the other way around! :confused: :rolleyes:

BikerJen- I ride "most" of the time by myself, and I really enjoy riding alone, it has its own wonderful charms. When I'm riding solo I feel more like a kid again. I love that about biking. :p

Everyone else- Wow, I am not too sore today! :eek: :p No need at all for ibuprophen, Biofreeze, or allergy stuff at all. Guess I am really lucky. I was sore during the night and had to keep switching positions in bed, but this morning I feel fine- yay! :D
Happily, today is a rainy wet day so I am sort of forced to stay off my bike anyway... ;)

(hey, where'd the little icon man with the sunglasses go??) :confused:

[Bikingmomof3]

CONGRATULATIONS Lisa!!!! :) Well done. You are an inspiration!! :cool:

[Zen]

I'm jealous.
I want that to be me!
Like BikerJen, I usually ride alone and you know when you ride alone you don't push yourself as hard.
Like most newbs, though, I want everything to happen NOW. I've only had the bike since April:p
GOOD FOR YOU, JACK!
Another TE'er to emulate:D

[Jo-n-NY]

Lisa, you ride sounded wonderful. I am happy to hear that you are not sore today like you expected to be. That just makes it all even better.

Congratulations ~ JoAnn

[ShubieGA]

Congrats Lisa! Especially with no soreness. :) My longest is 40 so far. Higher goals to aim for!

[Crankin]

Lisa where did you ride? Did you cross the state line into MA yet? When is your Berkshire trip planned for? We will be out there the weekend of July 19th.

Robyn

[mimitabby]

good job, Lisa! next time you'll do a century. piece of cake.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Congrats Lisa! Especially with no soreness. :) My longest is 40 so far. Higher goals to aim for!

Yeah, my previous "Longest Ride" of 40 miles was only last month! :) Go for it! I know full well that all my little regular 20 mile rides kept me from hurting like hell after my 70 ride. :D It seemed to me that once I was able to do the 50 miler, the 70 seemed not too different.

Mimi- piece of cake?? Hmmmm....sure..... ;) Have you ridden a 100 mile/1day ride yet on a bike that isn't a tandem?- just curious.

Robin- This ride was all in NY- south of us to Tivoli and back. Last month we did go into MA to Great Barrington & West Stockbridge, and then back to Chatham NY again- that was a 52 miler. I think we have decided not to ride to Northfield- the climbing route there is just too nasty for us right now, and no good way around it. So instead, our next goal is to ride down to Kingston NY (+/- 60 miles?) stay overnight with some friends, and ride back. They promised they'd make us a big lasagna! :p

[Crankin]

Well, if you rode to GB and Stockbridge, we are going to be in Egremont, which is right next door.
Kingston is nice. I had relatives (deceased) who lived there for many years. That is a beautiful area to ride in.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, if you rode to GB and Stockbridge, we are going to be in Egremont, which is right next door.


The 19th is a thursday- you mean the weekend of July 20-22nd?
You know, any of you riders are welcome to come to our place and stay over and ride/relax whatever...if you wanted to make a side trip. We can sleep at least 6 people on beds, mattresses and cots, etc. Additional floor/tent space too. Safe bike storage, good wholesome food, hot shower, computer, maps, a cool cafe in town,..... just a thought. :)

[Crankin]

We will be there Thursday night through Sunday. I will PM you as it gets closer.

Robyn

[mimitabby]

Lisa, yes I did. I rode 120 miles in 2003. On a hybrid bike actually. It was day one of the STP. and yes, it was hard. I wasn't near in as good condition as i am now, and my bike was rather heavy.

I plan to do a century this summer. soon.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa, yes I did. I rode 120 miles in 2003. On a hybrid bike actually. It was day one of the STP. and yes, it was hard. I wasn't near in as good condition as i am now, and my bike was rather heavy.

I plan to do a century this summer. soon.

I'm impressed!- on a hybrid, yet! :eek:
I can't even imagine.....
Though I think my bike weighs in the same ballpark as many hybrids weigh?- 30 pounds.

[mimitabby]

it might weight the same, but i'll bet it moves a lot better.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

it might weight the same, but i'll bet it moves a lot better.

Just like us when we bike a lot! :D :D :D

[lauraelmore1033]

Congratulations, Lisa! I think you will find that 100 is only a baby step away! I found out over the weekend that riding 100 miles doesn't feel that much harder than riding 65--I'm sure you will too.
c'mon in the water's fine!:D :D :D

[DDH]

Congratulations Lisa!!!! Had I stuck with my riding over the winter and spring, I might have been up there with you. Now I am starting all over again.

I'm very proud for you!!! Were you sore the next day? I remember trying to do that 50 miles last summer and sagged out, so I can't imagine doing 70, WAY to GO!!!