How was your August?

[sundial]

Of all the months, August '08 was the worst for me. Only did 91 miles for the month. Between having really, really hot weather and life, it was a bad month for me. I hope I can start putting in the miles again. For some reason, I just don't have any ambition to get on the bike for those long rides. :( I know I need to.....just my off month I guess. Anyone else having a lackluster month?

[pardes]

I've had a wonderful August. The temperature in Delaware has been unseasonably moderate except for a few days. I didn't care. I had a new bike and a new lease on the Green life.

If August was lackluster for you, the cooler and crisper weather of September and October should revive you for the longer rides.

[melissam]

Sundial,

Ah, I can almost hear the disappointment in your post. Sorry that it's been a bummer of a month for you.

Last year's August for me was a huge disappointment. I got a whopping 42 miles in for the whole freaking month and had to stop riding due to ongoing issues with my neck & shoulder. I even had to bail on an organized ride I'd signed up and paid for. Didn't start riding until the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Sometimes you just need to take a break. You'll probably come back stronger than ever!

- Melissa

[sundial]

I got a whopping 42 miles in for the whole freaking month and had to stop riding due to ongoing issues with my neck & shoulder. I even had to bail on an organized ride I'd signed up and paid for.
- Melissa

Isn't that frustrating? You're cooking right along and then BAM! It's off the bike for awhile. Today my knee wants to be cranky because of Gustav and 2 weeks ago I had what felt like a migraine in the knee joint. :( I really could use some good ol' fashion girls ride out time. I guess that's partly why I'm feeling blah.

[melissam]

Isn't that frustrating? You're cooking right along and then BAM! It's off the bike for awhile. Today my knee wants to be cranky because of Gustav and 2 weeks ago I had what felt like a migraine in the knee joint. :(
Oof, "migraine in the knee joint" sounds like a new kind of torture I don't want to experience.


I really could use some good ol' fashion girls ride out time. I guess that's partly why I'm feeling blah.
Well come on out to California for some R&R (Riding and Relaxation)! :) Our "hot" is probably your "pleasantly warm -- so you don't have to wear knee warmers and worry about sufficient warm up time."

[Sgritn]

Mine has been wonderful both physically{riding every safe chance I get} and mentally..{solved lots of 'problems'}. I've gained a wonderful sense of accomplishment since learning to street ride and I feel better than I have in many years!!:)

[sundial]

Well come on out to California for some R&R (Riding and Relaxation)! :) Our "hot" is probably your "pleasantly warm -- so you don't have to wear knee warmers and worry about sufficient warm up time."

I would like that very much. :)

[salsabike]

Sundial, August 06 I spent with my mother who was in the hospital, and August 07 I spent learning to live with the fact that she died that June of 07. August 08 has been very nice. I just want you to know that this happens--that is, that the bad times and the good times both come and go, and you will have a good time coming again.

[Crankin]

My August was good. I am about 2 weeks ahead in my mileage from last year. But, I know that I always get a bit burned out after a tour or hard trip, so I am taking it a bit easy now until next week. Last year, I was not feeling well at all and it was really starting to be bad around this time. I only rode twice last September, the best month around here! I plan to make up for it this year. In fact, I don't know how I got 2600 miles last year. My goal is 2500 again, but I think I might go past that because I will be able to ride during the week in September and October.
The only bad thing is that my speed is not what I want, but I can live with it. I'm out there.

[Jiffer]

I'm STOKED about my August! I got about 450 miles in. The most riding I've done in any month ever. I have gotten so much stronger this year and I got my professional bike fit in August, which helped me tremendously. So, MY August has been wonderful. Sorry yours wasn't so wonderful. The ambition will come back for you. It's easy to get burned out when it's hot and/or you've been riding a ton. It's okay to take a break for a while.

I suggest you get out and just do some fun rides. Go lollygaggin! Just enjoy being on the bike and don't worry about your distance or speed.

[firenze11]

A migraine in the knee sounds awful! I hope that gets better.

Mine was pretty bad cycling wise. Actually, it was no good at all. After falling off my bike I got a little nervous about riding too much before the breast cancer walk. I had a ride scheduled with a friend and had to cancel due to a thunderstorm. Didn't make my triathlon because of walk training (I'm still new to all this training/athletic stuff so I didn't know how to schedule both). Left for school and left my bike at home (I'm still undecided about bringing it to school, maybe in the spring). And I'm still dealing with weird hip pain.

But I also got myself ready for the breast cancer walk. And signed up for spin and swim classes so I'm moving my triathlon dream forward. Got a physio prescription. And I know that I can take my time with becoming a real cyclist, there's no rush, my bike will be waiting for me when I come back (although TE might kick me off for being delinquent with my cycling)

It's good to read about the good month's people have had, though. Keeps me realizing some months are good some are not so good.

[makbike]

I had a great August - my best thus far! I logged 1063 miles. I rode six centuries and lots of shorter rides in between. Typically my mileage really drops off when I return to teaching but I was able to keep my momentum going and logged my third month in a row of 1000+ miles. I pretty excited and tired! September will be a typically month - around 600 mile.

[IFjane]

I can reliate, Sundial - except my whole 2008 can be written off, as far as I am concerned (except for my wedding and the week after).

All I know is that you need to keep plugging along and find all the bright spots you can. If you don't feel like putting in long miles, then put in short ones....and hopefully those short ones will turn into longer ones....and longer and longer....

Best of luck!

[melissam]

I would like that very much. :)

Well that settles it then! You MUST plan a vacation to California for next August!! :)

Between all the great women in the NorCal contingent, I'm sure we can plan quite the itinerary for you.

[tygab]

welll, overall August was good, but not for cycling (this whole summer has kinda not been great to get rides in, punctuated by a good 6-8 weeks of nearly daily late afternoon t-storms, which made it very hard to plan riding). It's more complicated now that I am thinking about it, but suffice it to say I can count the # of rides on real pavement I have been able to do for the summer. But the flip side of this is I have some of the alpacas in the barn, 12 hens we raised from chicks just about ready to start laying, and that is a big accomplishment of a different kind that we've been working on for several years....

hang in there, and realize life comes in ebbs and flows, and you'll do best by not trying to over steer the raft, :)

[TxDoc]

Anyone else having a lackluster month?

Yep, you are not alone. Got hit by a truck at the beginning of August and I'm closing the month with just a little over 300 miles, and not yet completely recovered. I have big hopes for September though. So the only suggestion I can give you is plan to intensify your training next month - that's what I'm doing and hope it works :)

[indysteel]

August has been an interesting month for me. I rode about 590 miles, which is more than 100 miles off my norm. I had a lot of other things going on, not the least of which was a relatively new relationship (two months and counting). He rides too but not as much as I do. Even so, I realize that I will likely have to rearrange my schedule to some degree. He's a keeper but it will still be challenging. I really want to achieve a good balance so I have some adapting to do. In the meantime, I have a 400-mile ride this month so September should be good!

[tygab]

In the meantime, I have a 400-mile ride this month so September should be good!

congrats and you'll find a way, but you're right, there's always an adaptation period for new things... what 400 m ride are you doing?

[Aggie_Ama]

It was different and good in its own way. Last summer I did a century in August and rode 100+ miles every weekend but that is all I did. This August I rode 219 miles but am proud that 75 of those were commuting miles and 30 miles were mountain biking! I also ran a little over 10 miles, not much for on month but that was only in two weeks and I am building on a 2 miles base.

I also have a cleaner house and two rooms of it painted that I have been thinking about painting.

This year I am just not as interested in long cycling on the weekend this year and that is okay. The longest ride I have done this month was right at 50 miles.

[sundial]

This year I am just not as interested in long cycling on the weekend this year and that is okay. The longest ride I have done this month was right at 50 miles.

Perhaps you are bitten by the mtb bug? :)

[OakLeaf]

Yes, I've dragged you all through my August with me, so you know how it's been. Running has suffered more than cycling and intensity has suffered more than quantity, but still only 265 miles for the month, and I'm not getting out today, either.

[sundial]

Me neither. I think you need a hug.

[Grog]

In August I have found myself putting most of my mileage in commuting. I ride my road bike only once a week now, very seldom twice. That's a bit sad and I miss it.

We had a great mini-tour, which I'm quite proud of.

The good news is that my commute is more than 25 km a day, so it does add up, and it's quite hilly so I am not losing fitness, really. I might make more efforts in the next few weeks to add a few kilometers on the way out in the morning or on the way back.

But right now the priority is my writing and my PhD. Such is life.

[Skierchickie]

Gee, Sundial - I'm sorry to hear it hasn't been going well. Hopefully things will start lookin' up soon.

My August has been great. I bought my new road bike July 31st, and have put 657 miles on it. Okay 611 in August. Plus another 46 on other bikes. Probably an all-time high for one month for me. I have a little over 1500 in for the season, and recently upped my goal for the season (which will end in a month or so) to 2000. Which would definitely be an all-time high for me. I hope to do 100 (solo) next Saturday, and then, if the weather cooperates, a double metric on September 20th. We'll see. I rarely do that tour, as the weather is often rotten, and it is run by a bunch of college kids (so not exactly what you would call well-run :rolleyes:). Anyway, if both these rides pan out, I should be able to get that 480-something more miles in. The weather is going to start changing here soon, though. It gets wet & windy here in the fall.

Oh - and I just got a promotion at work with a nice raise! :D

[Zen]

Well that settles it then! You MUST plan a vacation to California for next August!! :)

Between all the great women in the NorCal contingent, I'm sure we can plan quite the itinerary for you.

Maryland is closer ;)
Canal ride, road ride, monument ride, Gettysburg ride, kayaking, tubing...:D

[OakLeaf]

Me neither. I think you need a hug.

Aw, thanks. Right back to ya girl, you need a bunch too.

[bmccasland]

Between tons of meetings out of town (long day trips), thunderstorms, and random feeling crappy days, I rode zero miles in August. Just when things were lightening up at work, this storm blows in off the Gulf, so my sunday ride was cancelled. But I wouldn't have made it since I had a bug.

Here's hoping September is better, and the next three tropical storms that are lined up about a week apart will LEAVE LOUISIANA ALONE. Not that I'm fussy or anything.

[Susan126]

Put me in the same boat! June and July were fantastic but August was a total wash out for my mountain and road biking!

August 1st hubby and I went to Montana for his mom's 90th birthday and big family reunion. Even though we took along our bikes we did not ride. When I got back home from Montana a week later I then flew to Pittsburgh for 2 weeks to see my parents in Pittsburgh. No cycling at all in Pittsburgh. When I arrived back home on August 22nd the weather that greeted me was cold and wet. On Monday August 25th I then went back to work. My summer break was officially over. School is now back in session and I am back at work in the middle school where I work. I'm already looking forward to Christmas Break! LOL

So August was a total bummer as far as my cycling went. I am trying to get rides in again. Hubby and I went out on Friday and Saturday. Should have gone out today too but we instead went for a ride with our kids and did some hiking. This coming weekend is supposed to be nice and in fact Joe and I will be riding in the annual Headwater Century. Either the 45 or 65 mile course. We'll see how our legs feel on Sunday.

I guess August this year was just one of those "months" . . . hopefully the ones ahead will be better.

Sue

[bikerchic]

My August was very busy with out of state company and a hurt back. I managed to get rest while company was here and my back is much better.

I had planned since June to do the Bridge Pedal ride here in Portland, OR and was getting in some riding to be ready for it. Since it's a pretty short ride I wasn't pushing the pedals much but by August company came unexpected and blew my training, the ride was the weekend before they got here and I had hurt my back getting things ready for them, ugg.

Oh well, Sept I do the Komen Walk for a Cure and have already gotten in a couple of bike rides. I'm just concentrating on fun rides and cranking those pedals before the rain sets in. By winter I hope to do some indoor spinning to keep going and get out when the weather permits.

I'm on a roll and I am committed to wear out some rubber, yay me!

I hope your September is better for you Sundial, it's always a pretty month at least here in the Northwest.

[Aggie_Ama]

Perhaps you are bitten by the mtb bug? :)

I think it is that this summer we have had well over 50 days where the temperature is over 100 (norm is 15 in a summer). If we aren't on the bikes by 7:00 we better just make it short. :rolleyes:

[Crankin]

I think I see a pattern here... WE ALL HAVE LIVES.
I don't want to get burned out on cycling, the way I did with aerobics. I got so burned out, I stopped exercising, or did it half heartedly and gained weight and felt miserable about myself. Not to sound flip, but if you are riding centuries every weekend and training for them, what else can you do? Cycling and other out door activities are the main part of my social life, but I also like to sit and do nothing, read, go out to eat, theatre, spend time with the few non cycling friends I have. As time goes on, I am doing less long rides. One metric this year and maybe 4 50 milers. My mileage is still the same, though, because I am doing more errands and other utilitarian riding on my Jamis. I also am finding my body needs to do other things besides cycling, or I can't maintain my weight. So hiking, walking, and yoga have taken up some of my time.
September is a wonderful month to ride.

[sundial]

Well, I figured it was time for a change so I joined the local gym. I have wanted to work on my core strength and upper body anway. And there's an eliptical trainer there too. :) Maybe I just need a change of pace.