FEb 28th rides

[Fredwina]

I acquired another, another 'bent buddy and we did the club ride together.
At the top of the big climb:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/SamqR3amLuI/AAAAAAAAAro/OaMeOfgajhA/s640/100_0333.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/SamqT3KiP1I/AAAAAAAAArw/YJFIq8PpPts/s640/100_0334.jpg
he bought a latte for letting him test ride my bacchetta last week:) I think a gigantic test riding (or at least sitting) session today
Since I had failed to ride my age in miles last weekend, I tried again, and succeededhttp://lh4.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/SamqXoIwgFI/AAAAAAAAAsA/jGPDl4J-fa8/s640/100_0336.jpg, plus got another pic in:

[hilldweller]

12k on the flat, practising moving hands from top of bars to drops and back again. I want to ride on hills but that means being able to brake hard going down and I don't feel I can get a strong enough grip on the brake levers from the hoods. Is that how it's supposed to be?

Also trying to do things gently and not trigger the 'dagger down the side of the spine' feeling that brought my last burst of cycling to an end. Can't get over how light this bike feels :)

[shootingstar]

Looks warmer than where we are.

Did our usual 42 kms. Must have been 3-4 degrees above freezing. Overcast. But dry with a slight wind. Where we ride, tailwind, become headwind, then tailwind. Whatever.

Like your mountains, can see snow up on ours too. I thought: Wonder if the snowshoeing is good up there now.

[redrhodie]

I couldn't believe it this morning when I woke up to dry roads, sun, and only minor wind! I had plans for lunch, but I still had time for a sweet little ride. Really enjoyed every minute of it!

hilldweller, I had the same issues with not being able to reach the brakes. I went to my lbs and had shims installed on the levers, which has really helped.

[sundial]

Me thinks we'll see even more pics now that you're a bent rider. :D

[Zen]

I picked up the new bike and rode around the parking lot at the LBS.

Of course it's going to snow tomorrow.

[DebW]

I rode for 2 hours today. Temp about 38F. Stopped at the bike shop near the end of my ride to buy a new battery for my computer, and finally got it working again. Now it says I've ridden 4 miles.

[RolliePollie]

First ride for 2009 and I felt really BAD! Rode 22 rather uncomfortable miles on the bike trail in Sacramento and I didn't expect to be this out of shape already. I haven't ridden outside since mid-December, but I've been on the trainer some (ok, not that much...I HATE the trainer...but I've been spinning a couple times a week) and I've been walking and skiing quite a bit, so I was hoping I wouldn't lose all my conditioning. I have a metric with hills coming up April 4 and now I'm really worried. Despite the discomfort, it did feel really good to be back out on the bike.

[SheFly]

Ended my rest week today with a 53 miler ;) Started out with the boys, but they didn't play quite as nice this week as they did last week. After just about 2 hours, I split from them and headed home on my own.

Unfortunately, I encountered the worst bout of intestinal distress on my ride home ever. It hurt to pedal! Made a pit stop, and all was well enough for me to get home.

The winds we've had for riding here in the Northeast have been BRUTAL so far this year. Average (wind speed) of 14.7 mph on the ride today... I can't wait for spring for real.

SheFly

[Aggie_Ama]

I ran for my half marathon training and realized I am not enjoying it at all. I miss my bike.:rolleyes:

[HillSlugger]

I was a wind wimp; rode the trainer in the basement instead.

[7rider]

I intended to do a simple out-and-back to Route 108. DH is still sick, so I went solo. I hooked up with an older guy, going about my speed. We chatted. I found out he's a neighbor of ours! Lives around the corner. DH and I have seen him ride, but never met him or knew him. I ended up riding with him for the rest of the ride - out in MDHillSlug's neck of the woods, actually. Also found out - he's an ex-Cat 1 racer from LA, back in the '70's. Lots of interesting people you meet, riding bikes.

[Andrea]

I rode in a training race today :D

Started out in a pack of 30:
http://blog.brickhouseracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/start2.jpg

I wanted to drop the guys who were sketchy riders, so I rolled off the front up the first hill and let the ensuing chase take care of the heard-thinning. About halfway through the race, I got up front on the longest hill (~1mile @ 3-4%) and rode tempo in order to continue the "thinning":
http://blog.brickhouseracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/tempo2.jpg

They don't look too happy about it :p

I bailed on the sprint and rolled in behind the pack. Even though it got down to ~10 guys, they were pretty twitchy, and I'd gotten the training that I needed for the day (my "job" in upcoming races will be to work like I did today, so it was good practice!)

[maillotpois]

jobob, dachsund and melissam did a GREAT job on a very very tough 60 mile Death Ride training ride! (trinity grade and spring mountain - sustained very steep grades). super good job friends! you have a lot to be proud of today.

[jobob]

gaaaah ... coach maillotpois tried to keel me!!

better luck next time :D

[PamNY]

Today I went back and forth over the Brooklyn Bridge. Monotonous, but I think it will build stamina. It's the closest thing I have to a hill nearby. There's usually something entertaining on the bridge, and today was no exception.

The temperature was 35 degrees and the wind was noticeable, but the lady in the photo shoot seemed quite cheery. By the way, the bike lane (both directions) is on the right side of the white line. My bell gets a workout, and I also yell at people (but nicely).

Pam

[sundial]

I picked up the new bike and rode around the parking lot at the LBS.

Of course it's going to snow tomorrow.

Yep, if you want it to rain, snow, or sleet, get a new bike.:rolleyes:
Where's the new pics of your hot bike? What's the name of it? :cool:

[Karma007]

My ride was... well, let's see. I couldn't make the group ride b/c dog had a vet apt., so I decided to ride the same route a little later in the morning. In an attempt to add mileage, I decided to ride out to the meeting site. (All unfamiliar terrain). The ride to Orinda was MISERABLE! The directions I had stunk, and I ended up PUSHING my bike quite a bit. Even that, I had to stop every 20 feet or so to catch my breath. Now, While I'm not in the best shape, the idea that I was pushing my bike up these hills was tough to take.It took almost 2 hours to go 14 miles. In cleats. Insane. Finally getting to the start of the route, I decided to tackle it. (Ego, ego). The next 33 miles were nice, but every grade brought me to tears at that point, as if the hill was put there, just to spite me. I made it back to Orinda, took transit home, where bf was kind enough to pick me up.
The good- At 47 miles, I'm getting my distance back up to where I would like it to be.
LESSON LEARNED- It's not all about the distance! I really did more than I should have, but I had my mind on the mileage, and not the overall ride.

In the End- 47 miles, 6 hours, and a bit of hiking. While it wasn't a joy ride, ya gotta admit, I kicked butt!

[Brandy]

We did the Death Valley Double Century on the tandem. The weather was PERFECT! Short sleeve jerseys, arm coolers and shorts all day. We forgot to pack our windbreakers :o but thankfully didn't need them.

[melissam]

jobob, dachsund and melissam did a GREAT job on a very very tough 60 mile Death Ride training ride! (trinity grade and spring mountain - sustained very steep grades). super good job friends! you have a lot to be proud of today.

Whew, that was SOME ride!!! I logged it in bikejournal this afternoon, and I think it's the first time I've ever marked a ride as "steep hills."

Fantastic training tips and encouragement from your coaching squad, MP!

- Mel