March 18 rides!

[Geonz]

I called in a few weather goddess points today. I'm usually pretty lucky - but our forecast was for "heavy rain and thunderstorms, especially in the morning" followed by another inch or so of rain through the day. Except, *today* is the day for my friend to return from laying his mother to rest and I really wanted to leave something to welcome him home, and his house is 7 miles from work.
Welp, we had light drizzle in the morning, which turned to lunchtime haze :) :) And, it being spring break, there wasn't even much traffic on Mattis Road as I streaked out, got scones at Panera and then cruised North to Savoy.
Now, it's raining... but I don't mind getting wet on the way home. I just can't even find my *other* rain pants, so it's sweats, and bringing three pairs or trying to put soggy ones on for each subsequent trip seemed sucky (but I was psyched for it). And his porch is sheltered (and the scones are in a coffee tin and the wine will be fine :)).
And the Gore-Tex jacket is working find :)
And it hit 50 degrees!!!! Spring might be coming!! There were worms and robins and everythign!!!

[jesvetmed]

That really speaks to your dedication to your friend. I hope it raises his spirits. Good for you. Gore-tex is amazing, huh?! I wish you a dry ride home! I too am trying to sneak out in the right moment today.

[Crankin]

I took my second, but really my first "real" after work ride today. It was 47 and cloudy when I started and for once I was dressed right.
My body, however, is not so good. I knocked my computer around and I couldn't get it to start and it was in some weird mode. It was probably better... however, after about 6.5 miles it started working, so I have some idea of how fast (or should I say slow) I was going. I am fine on the flats, but as soon as I get to even a little roller my speed is going way down. It's not just my groin issue, but I just feel weak in the legs. I am not out of breath at all. So, I just tried to work through the pain. I did my regular loop that I know every little bump on and I would say that on some of the rollers, my speed was 3-5 mph slower than usual. When I got back to my street, my average was 15.3, about .5-1.5 mph slower than usual, before I go up the big hill. I don't even want to discuss what it was after the hill and the hill on my driveway. Let's just say I saw 4 on the computer at the top of the driveway and usually I'm going 6-8. It's a 15% grade, but usually it doesn't bother me.
I guess I didn't realize how much the Fibro. took out of me. I didn't stop riding last fall, but I certainly wasn't doing as much as usual. And I substituted walking for a lot of spin classes this winter. We lead our first ride in 2 weeks and I hope I can keep up as the sweep :eek:.
But, the weather looks OK and I think I will be able to get 4-5 rides in before then.

[redrhodie]

An all-new low temp for me, officially below freezing. As I thought, I like it better at least 8 degrees warmer, but still, I had fun. Stopped at Stedman's and bought a skullcap, and that kept my head toasty for the second half. It was also warmer by then, too. thirysomething miles, some kind of time, some kind of speed :cool:

[Grog]

First ride of the season today... into the city to check out an apartment my husband and I were interested in renting. The weather was really nice, 8C, only a little wind, and sunny, so I headed out on my bike. Thank God! because if I would have taken the transit to get there I would have been really annoyed at loosing so much time. The apartment was really, really small. (As in bedrooms where you wouldn't be able to fit a queen-size bed...)

But, oh! the ride.

I ride on my campus bike every day to get to my office and I had a surprise when I sat on my road bike's saddle: it felt as if I was really high in the sky! And it just rolls so well.

My bike computer's battery was dead, but I figure I did about 34 km. It was nice to explore the city's bike route - I never really ride there - and to check out potential neighbourhoods along the way.

I've also changed to my mountain SPD pedals and old touring shoes. The shoes are really no good but - it's weird - I feel LIBERATED when I stop at an intersection, put my foot down and need not fear that my cleat is going to send me slipping down. I think I'm starting to discover what type of cyclist I really am. :)

[jesvetmed]

The afternoon cleared quite a bit. Got in a ride to the Starbucks in the next town.. met DH there. Actually rode an extra 30 minutes because he was late to meet me, and I figured I'd just go ride some more! But oh, I'd forgotten about the wind! The trainer is nice for some things! All in all, about 25 miles, maybe a little less. But the sun actually shone down on me! That makes it all worthwhile.