August 9th Saturday RIDES

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Just got back from a hilly 35 mile ride with my DH. It was quite a workout, and we are both pretty tired. DH had to take a nap! A shower was enough for me, but I'm still wiped out. (quietly whispering gratitude for my 24 tooth granny gear)...
I feel good that I got a decent sized ride in, though. I fully expect to wake up tomorrow morning with frighteningly HUGE quads. I might need a block and tackle to hoist them out of bed. :D

[RolliePollie]

Lisa - best wishes for your quads. I know mine have been yelling at me lately after longer hilly rides! :p

Just a quick spin for me today...12 miles. I had a new chain put on my bike yesterday and I wanted to test out the shifting before my big ride tomorrow. I am going to tackle a very difficult ride...64 miles with about 6,000 feet of climbing. I don't know if I'll make it the whole way. Luckily, about 90% of the climbing is on the first half of the ride and it's an out-and-back so I can turn around at any time.

A milestone for me today...I made it to 4,500 miles since I starting riding almost exactly 18 months ago.

[Crankin]

Ha! I bet you did enjoy your 24 tooth little gear. We planned a 50 mile ride based on a ride I had done with a friend, but then the sun started going in and out; given the way the weather has been, we didn't want to be that far away from home. So we did a great 22 mile ride from the house; we did the 2 flattest loops we can possibly do from our house. There are 2 small hills besides the hill back to my house.
It was SO nice for it to be only 72 out and partly cloudy. Saw lots of new cyclists out there, too.
22 miles, 15.9 average.
Now we are heading off to EMS to buy the last of our supplies for our Mass Bike Tour Across MA. We actually set up the tent in the driveway this morning, so we won't look like dorks the first night. I am praying it doesn't rain.

[7rider]

I started out with DH on the N2 this a.m. But I was sick last night and not feeling too spry - a problem on this ride. My friend was on the ride - she usually joins us at the start and then peels off early to head back to swap kid-care with her DH so he can ride (and then go and open the LBS). So, I peeled off with her and I think we gabbed the whole way back! I did a loop through Rock Creek Park after she left - what a place to people watch! - and then went over to the shop to get yelled at by the mechanic for my casual approach to bike maintenance! He tightened, lubed, and adjusted, and my bike is as good as new - and I rode away head down, recognizing the error of my ways. :o:rolleyes: Thank you, Pepper!!!
Ended up with 50 miles on the day at 17.2 mph.

[uforgot]

I rode the Rolla Lions Club trail with Fastdogs today. Once around, and it took about an hour. I love her new Gary Fisher bike and I had a chance to try out my new Specialized Myka. Also thanks to her for finding the spiderwebs first!:D

[kfergos]

We actually set up the tent in the driveway this morning, so we won't look like dorks the first night. I am praying it doesn't rain.

Good call. On the STP my dad and I saw some people who had clearly never put up their tent before. They stood around for a long time examining the poles and the loops in the tent, clearly desperately confused, until a neighbor took pity on them and helped them out. Props for practicing ahead, rather than giving people a couple hours' (seriously!) enjoyment out of watching your attempts.

My ride today was rather sobering: I did a metric century for the MS Manchester Ride, thinking, "Hey, I just trained for and completed two centuries back to back on July 12 and 13. How hard can one metric century be?" Well, turns out that all my taking it easy since my Big Ride has taken its toll. I ride to work every day as always, but I'd only done one fairly easy 50-mile ride since then. This Manchester metric century wasn't awful, but my butt muscles and quads hurt the first 20 miles until I realized I couldn't ride a the 16-mph pace I did my other long rides in. Plus it was pretty hilly; my Garmin said we went up one 27% (!) grade and a couple others in the low to mid 20%s. I take that with a grain of salt, but still, steep. When I slowed down, things got better, but it made me realize that legs don't stay in shape for long rides indefinitely. I have a lot of miles to ride to stay in shape until my last century in October.

[OakLeaf]

Breakfast ride with the club. It's an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day - I actually needed my arm warmers when we started out, but was ready to shed them by about 9:30. We headed out some roads I'd never ridden before. I had no idea there was anything so FLAT in this county! :D Some of the ride I just cruised, some of it I pushed with a couple of the stronger riders. Anyway it felt really good after my interval run yesterday. I'm tired now, but that's mostly from lack of sleep - my legs feel ready for another go.

53.14 miles at a 16.4 moving average, only 1466 feet of climbing.

[mudmucker]

After providing expert testimony on a wind farm project I am working on, I am home from West Virginia. The hearings were successful. I have not been on the bike for close to 2 weeks because of my work schedule. I also hadn't seen my father for a while. He just got this free bike from a friend and he's been riding on bike paths where he lives. He is 81 years old. I said, throw the bike in the truck and come on out my way. There's a paved bike path in Gardner that would be perfect. So today we did 7 miles of this bike path and we had a total blast. I think it is so cool that I can bike with my 81 year old father. He was going 14 mph in some spots. I made some adjustments for him, but the bike is too small. He wants to go to an LBS to get a bike that fits him. His riding experience will be so much better. I have a mountain bike and a steel utility bike I am overhauling right now and they are down to the frame. I would have liked to use the mt bike today - the carbon fiber frame was a little overkill. I rode in my mt biking shorts and used my sneakers on the Look pedals.

In photo 3, dad is riding off into the sunset (amongst the invasive species)

[Dogmama]

42 miles for me - fairly flat terrain. Humid day, though. C'mon Autumn!

Seemed more difficult than usual. Have been trying to stave off a cold & haven't been sleeping well.

Off to San Francisco on Monday. Will probably rent one of those gawd-awful bikes & go across the bridge to Sausalito with DH. He loves that. I'm terrified of heights and bikes that don't shift when they're supposed to. I'm spoiled :p

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just have to say it is so inspiring to read what all you others did today! What great rides and great stories!

Over here, I finally did lie down- just as DH was getting up. Now I'm up again and getting ready to make fresh corn on the cob and tomato-cucumber salad for dinner.....but poor DH had to go back to lying down again!- he says he doesn't feel so great. Maybe the tough hills and the sun. :(
I gave him some iced green tea and he's resting some more.

Mudmucker- you are so lucky to have that experience with your father! How wonderful!

[mudmucker]

Mudmucker- you are so lucky to have that experience with your father! How wonderful!

Believe me, I know this and cherish every moment when we do things like this.

[MrsB]

42 mile loop, 16 mph average moving time. Took us about 3.5 hours because we stopped at a seafood place for lunch. No flat tires though! LOL. Of course not because this time we were prepared.

[jobob]

aka_kim, melissam, Mel's SIL Johanna, dachshund, Veronica, V's husband Thom, LeeBob and I rode up Mt Diablo today.

It was a first for Mel, Johanna, and I think for dachshund as well. Congratulations ladies! :cool:

For those of us who made it up to the summit just once*, it was 29 miles and 3420 ft of climbing, according to my computer anyhow.

We had a fun late lunch afterwards at Fuzio's in Dublin. Since my bad influence was there, I had two beers. Two and a half if anyone was keeping track. A fun day with great people.

* A certain sandbagging overachiever went and did the last 100 yard 17% grade climb to the summit twice. Skinny little brat. :p

[michelem]

FINALLY back on the bike today for a 60+ mile ride. It felt AWESOME to be back on my bike, NOT on the trainer! :D

Can I just tell yo how much I love my bike? I LOVE MY RUBY (including the Jett saddle)!!! :D:p:D:p:D:p

[Alex]

The Utah Lake Century Epic Ride. 111 miles around Utah Lake. Hot, and with a little bit of an unfavorable wind at times, but it was still a fabulous ride. I rode about 95% of it alone, which is how I prefer to ride, so I shall be feeling the effects of this one tomorrow. ;)

My new Assos shorts were fantastico!

Alex

[bluebug32]

Great group mtb ride today. 15.5 miles and some good hills (20% grade at one point). Heading to the couch....

[divingbiker]

Well, I'm the underachiever of the bunch. I rode Miss Gulch over to the gym, 6 miles round trip. (Of course, I also did an hour of water aerobics, a 2.5 mile run, and lifted weights also, so there wasn't a whole lot of time for a longer ride.):p

[Blueberry]

I didn't ride today, but I worked the finish line rest stop of the Tarwheels' Bikefest (was going to sweep, but my back has been cranky). DH did sweep - they had assigned him another partner - who bailed at about mile 20 on the metric:mad: He came back to the finish line and was ranting because he doesn't like to "go slow" and "have to hang with those people." Probably a good thing he didn't finish the sweep. And a good thing he doesn't know my speed. Ah well - good thing DH was well prepared (and I had stocked his bag with goodies to get him through the ride). It was an interesting experience to be on that side of the table - most of the riders were awesome, and thanked us for doing such a good job! A few chewed us out - they got lost. I drove the course to check the markings, etc. last weekend (and it was re-checked just before the ride), and there were signs and marks at every turn. Apparently, they threw away their cue sheets ("we didn't really need those!"), and just followed groups. These are popular cycling roads and not riders were apparently associated with this ride. I really wonder what else they think we could have done?!

Overall, though, a beautiful day and a great experience! Now to figure out how to strengthen the back (hopefully!) and get ready for the MS 150!

CA

[fastdogs]

rode my mtb today, met up with uforgot at rolla lion's club mtb trail. I had so much fun!!! Up to now, I've been riding by myself, and it was so much fun have someone to ride with. It's a great little trail. We saw a deer; last time I rode there I saw a groundhog. There was nobody else on the trail. It made my day!
vickie

[Trek420]

Went to the dojo, riders zooming by, did you hear a small whine "wish I was riding"?
Ran errands, saw Oakland Yellowjackets club ride zip by, another small whine.

It's ok, I rode to work twice this week and had a great time.

[Mr. Bloom]

I think it is so cool that I can bike with my 81 year old father. He was going 14 mph in some spots.

You tell your dad that if I live to be 81, I'd feel good if I looked half as strong and rode half as fast!:D That's outstanding!:cool:

We did our typical 19 miles on the tri-course.

The whether here this weekend is outstanding!:D

[boy in a kilt]

I had a strong need to go to the hardware store. Since I haven't been riding much lately, it seemed like a good day to go on my bike.

I came home with a new drill (we don't own one), a set of bits, two new door knobs to replace the ones on the house when we moved in and a latch for the gate that can be opened from both sides. Need to put the latter high enough that DS can reach it but DD can't.

Don't know the mileage because the bike computer is inoperative. But I had a fun ride. Even though I grew up in Portland, I don't know the southwest part of town very well.

[BarbaraAlys]

You that rode in 72 degrees, or 'cool in the morning'...I'm SOOO ENVIOUS.

I did 42 miles in the Melon Patch Tour in De Leon, TX. At 7:30AM it was 80 Degrees. My bike computer read 104 at the highest.

This was out in the country, rolling hills, no big climbs but lots of long slow rises that kill me. I kind of wanted to do 71miles, but I went there with some swifties and didn't want them to have to wait for me for hours. As it worked out I finished my ride about half an hour ahead of them (they were on the 71). My average, 13pmh, their average 18mph. <sigh> When will I get faster!?

It was a beautiful day and a well organized ride. I really need to get a camera and take pics on rides like that. I love seeing where all of you get to ride. When we got home I discovered that my rear tire is flat. I remember going through some glass about a mile from the end. Great timing, huh?

Barbara

[pardes]

Great photos, Mudmucker. Dads and daughters on bikes are a special thing.

I was in the LBS when a father and two very very little girls came in to buy their new bikes. My gosh but those trikes were sooooo small. They pedaled all over the store with pink streamers flapping in the breeze. I told the Dad that his daughters would never forget these moments just as I have never forgotten my Dad teaching me to ride in 1955. The memories are burned into my brain. He died only a few years later at 46 so I am extra grateful for those times we had together.

As for my ride today, did 10 miles, dropped my chain, at breakfast, contemplated my navel, and assessed how very inadequate I am to take on inclines. Heck, there was a 70 foot rise over a 0.2 mile stretch and I had to walk it. I decided, after that, that the monster incline up to the top of the Reservoir was not in the picture for me today.

[han-grrl]

I did a lovely 3 hour mtb ride with hubby. It started to rain as we biked to the trail head, but then it stopped and the temperature was quite lovely!

we did my usual route in reverse, in the Gatineau Park...which was acually a lot more "pretty" than the other way...

[Brandy]

106 miles and 15,000 feet of climbing! Unsupported, solo training ride. I'm so proud of myself!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2748816922_a317c3c942_o.jpg

Here's a map of the mountains so you can get a better idea...

http://www.socalvelo.com/maps/san-gabriel-mountains.jpg

[Red Rock]

I actually went for a real ride toady in the 100 degree heat. I forgot to mention I did about 21 miles. It was nice to be back on the bike again after living on the trainer. I took a few pictures of what I saw, I thought you all might like them. I have another pic but can get it to post.

Red Rock