Nov 11 Rides

[Aggie_Ama]

Today we put in 62.4 miles. It was a huge feat for me because I didn't hide when I saw the 20 mph winds. DH carefully planned the route to start with a tailwind, headwind in the middle and tailwind on miles 48-60. Poor DH got stung by a bee, he sweels pretty bad from stings and is not feeling great now. Other than that it was a great ride and I am pleased to say even with the tailwind (and crosswinds) I averaged 15 mph.

[SouthernBelle]

After what seems forever off the bike, I got in rides both yesterday and today. Although both were short, it was so nice just to get out and crank the pedals. Plus the weather was really nice. Esp today when the temps were up a bit.

The battery on the cadence sensor was dead, so I had to replace it this afternoon.

Since tomorrow is technically a holiday, I'm planning on getting in a ride. I'll still put in an office appearance though.

[HillSlugger]

I'm still working at getting back my cycling form. I set out to do 25 miles but just didn't have it in me; my legs were not up for it. Instead, decided to do 17. Later, decided to tack on 3 more to make 20. Ended up with 22.

22.71 miles 14.62 miles/hr

[makbike]

This certainly was not my weekend to ride. Yesterday my ride was delayed due to a large staple in my rear tire. Today things got worse. I should have listened to that little voice that told me to check the tire and tube (I did not change it yesterday) but I got involved in things and never got around to it before I departed for the starting point. The tire appeared to be okay and so I assumed it was. At about the two mile mark while flying down a hill I heard a loud pop and I knew it was my rear tire. I quickly pulled off the road and could tell immediately I was in trouble. The side of the tire was shredded. The tube had a 4" gash in it and the beads on the outside wall were exposed. Luckly, the wires were still okay so after some discussion with those who stopped to help and offer advise I decided my ride was over for the day. I changed the tube, put some air in it and gingerly rode back to my car. I was advised to stay off the seat as much as possible and I did my best to follow this suggestion. I guess I should not complain that tire had over 10,000 miles on it. The upside was I was not hurt, I did not lose control of my bike coming down the hill and I had a spare tire at home. All is well!

[fastdogs]

today I went 7.5 miles, but my husband and 4 year old came along again. I pulled the trailer and my husband insisted on riding the walmart bike. It threw the chain once and he had some gear trouble, but he insists it's just fine. The limestone trail is mostly flat, but after 3 miles or so it deteriorates into mountain bike territory and we had to turn around- fine for the bikes but not wide enough for the trailer. At one point we ended up down a steep rocky slope- loose rocks about 3" diameter. I actually was able to come back up it with the trailer, even with rocks slipping out from under the tires the whole way. My son gets impatient riding in the trailer after about this distance, so that's his limit. I wanted to ride longer, but he'd had enough. I think my husband would ride as long as I wanted.
I enjoy having them along, but since I'm used to riding by myself it sort of cramps my style- I can't go where or as long as I'd like, and the weekend is the only time I have to ride any distance at all. Andy will be better once he's tall enough to ride the trail a bike I got off craig's list (his legs aren't quite long enough, it's a gary fischer freeloader), then we can go longer.
I'd like my husband to get a better bike, but he seems perfectly content with the mongoose he's got. I found a trek 7100 on craig's list today, not far from here- with rear rack and bag, and computer, for $75. 20" frame, he'd have to try it to see if that's too tall, but what a deal. He had no interest in it though.
vickie

[indigoiis]

I did a stretch of a bike path here... lots of leaves on the ground, but relatively quiet. Cold... 40's. 15 miles total. I feel like I am not riding as well as before... DH says it's cuz it's cold.

[mimitabby]

Today we did our last big ride before going to Arizona on thursday. Dear DH thought we'd do about 70 + miles
but at mile 45 I was getting pretty beat, so we did 55 total miles at 13mph (with 700 feet of altitude gain ooooooooo). We rode from our house to Auburn and then to Kent to stop in at my mother;s and then to Renton and then home again. Almost completely flat.
It was windy; and yes, we planned for tailwinds for the home stretch. The wind wasn't as bad as our ride about a month ago east of the mountains, but it got stiffer as the day grew longer. Come to think of it, my knees got stiffer too. oh. right
Here's Raleighdon posing next to another kind of Davidson
http://www.sersale.org/bike/vetdayride1.jpg

and we still have lots of beautiful autumn color here, but there are more and more trees with no leaves left; and LOTS of leaves on the trails.
http://www.sersale.org/bike/vetdayride2.jpg

[Fredwina]

I didn't get back from church until 2:30, and the sun sets at 5, so I did a quick 15 mile ride around ontario airport, The weather was threatening, so no pics :(

[sandra]

Mimi, beautiful picture! Also, is that Brooks bar tape on your bike?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Great pictures, Mimi!!! :) :) :)

[ehirsch83]

Great pictures Mimi!!

I did a solo 80 yesterday, rode strictly off of heart rate and cadence, so it was a little slower then I would normally like, but my heart rate has been way to high lately, so I really worked on keeping it between 140-150 with my cadence around 95. Gorgeous day for a ride here in South Florida, the weather started out in the mid 60s and my ride ended in the low 80s probably. Rode north on A1A up into Palm Beach, so I got to pass all of the big huge mansions(or compounds as they like to call them). And they are all getting opened for the season, so much prettier then they have been. Next time I go out on this ride, I will have to take a camera to take pictures for everyone!

[RoadRaven]

I went with my youngest son for a 16km ride today - one of his longer ones...
I was in recovery mode so just climbed hills steadily and he was thrilled to report that to his dad that he dropped me on all the hills! :p

He didn't mention that I was back on his tail shortly after we crested each one...

Another lovely day

[GLC1968]

DH and I did our first ride in awhile, yesterday. It was my first in over 2 weeks (with a week of the flu in there!) so I was nervous about the distance. We did a route that should be about 49 miles, but my computer died on me at 27.3. I was getting tired and when I glanced down and saw that we still had almost 1/2 the ride to go, I was really dejected. I kept wondering why I was so tired after 27 miles... Duh. At that point, we were closer to 40 miles into the ride and I didn't know it. It wasn't until the speed part also gave out that I realized what was happening! :p

The weather was nice (55 degrees, light breeze, sunny) and the fall colors were AMAZING. I swear that the best color displays were in the ugliest parts of the ride...so I didn't snap any photos. Next time!

[PinkBike]

mimi, are you and r-don coming for el tour?

we did our last ride before el tour also. it was an el tour training ride so we drove down to tucson -again. it was spozed to be a 90-miler, but they changed it to a 60-miler and i was greatly relieved! of course with the change in route they gave us no maps, so i hastily scribbled instructions on the back of the original map. good thing. the group split wide open at the first light - those who made it thru before the light changed and those who went thru after it changed we never saw again. as the light was changing, one guy got mad that we were actually gonna stop for the light, said 'forget this', and went around us and on thru on the red. as he rode off i saw that group up ahead of us riding in a big clump taking up the whole lane and was happy not to be with them. matter of fact, when we took off from the light we didnt see another soul the whole ride.

riding on those same roads for the millionth time i got bored, tired, burnt out, so we made up excuses to stop - DH couldnt get any water out of his camelbak so we had to make adjustments, twice, had to take off the arm warmers, then vest, had to stop and buy batteries for the garmin, saw something in the road and turned around to check it out, yadayadayada. 60 miles. 4 hours.

thanks to the TE-er who recommended Holiday Inn Express for late check out times. they give you a grace period up to 2 pm, no problem. that was excellent.

gotta 3-day work week (woohoo!) then it's el tour de tucson - 25th anniversary - this saturday - can't wait.

[mimitabby]

Yes, Laurie
we're flying down for that ride. How many miles are you riding? I would love to meet you. It looks like you (and your bike) are as distinctive as mine!
I'll be looking for you!

[RolliePollie]

43 miles on the bike trail with some pretty good winds. Funny how you can have a headwind both coming and going. Lots of leaves and puddles on the trail. I nearly crashed in a giant muddy patch...my own fault though. I went off the trail to avoid a flooded area and didn't realize I was riding right into some deep slimy slippery mud! I averaged 17.2, which is super fast for me. AND I made it to 2,500 miles for the season, which, by the way, is my first season so I'm kinda proud of myself! :p

One thing that struck me as kind of funny...the American River runs along next to the bike trail, but there are lots of times when you can't see it and you kind of forget it's over there. So I'm riding along and this man comes walking up a dirt path in his waders carrying about a 3' long King salmon!

[li10up]

I'm a little disappointed with myself. I had Monday off (Veteran's Day) and had planned on doing a long ride. But I just didn't have the energy. I got out of bed at 9:00 am and then proceeded to sleep off and on in my recliner until 3:00 pm. I feel like I wasted the day and a chance to get in some good miles. Anyone else have days like that where all you do is sleep all day?

[Aggie_Ama]

I feel like I wasted the day and a chance to get in some good miles. Anyone else have days like that where all you do is sleep all day?

Yes! And I find if I push myself to go out I usually end up coming down with an illness. Sorry you missed out on the miles but your body probably needed the rest. :)

[PinkBike]

we'll be there early friday, staying at innsuites. pm me and i'll give you our cell number, maybe we can hook up? we're doing the 109 miles, last year i did it in 6:06, this year i want 6 hours for platinum! but i'm a year older, soooooo. . .