April 4 rides

[Fredwina]

Got and early start as usual
rode by restaurant on Rt 66:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/Sdexej3r9RI/AAAAAAAABHg/9KwcH96r2oE/s640/100_0421.jpg
A California Mission Bell on Rt 66:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/SdexgqPJniI/AAAAAAAABHs/QsCo6obq_mA/s640/100_0422.jpg
Then I went to church for spring cleaning:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/SdexqC5WC2I/AAAAAAAABIc/qkvDoI4xIFA/s640/100_0428.jpg
before coming back home on the pacific electric:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/SdexuUNvPzI/AAAAAAAABIs/vumxaHwSL2o/s640/100_0430.jpg

[shootingstar]

Did 48 kms., included a detour from part of our route near a regional park. Police had roped off the whole area and were redirecting traffic. A jogger's dead body (woman) was discovered in the middle of the afternoon yesterday. It is a park heavily used by joggers and walkers. Overlooks an ocean.

She might have been a sister of a local person well-known ..who my partner knows distantly as a cyclist. It's all over the local news right now.

I thought about this sad tragedy when climbing a long hill that I had never done before because of the detour. It was a beautiful sunny day.

This is the 3rd time in cycling life where mysterious body was discovered the woods. Other times it was when I was cycling in Toronto in some quieter areas where it's forested. Again police had roped off area..in a ravine area.

[TrekTheKaty]

Route 66! Keep heading west and we'll meet you at the Chain of Rocks bridge in St. Louis!

I did 37--DH did 49 (he left from the house) on the Katy Trail. Sunny and 65--snow forecast tomorrow. Lunch at the Blumenhof Winery. Ripping winds out of the east gusting 20 on the way back. Saw some boy scouts pack it in. I had to stop to drink or when I took my hand off, it would blow me over!

Took me until July last year to build up to that mileage :D

[Blueberry]

Did 26 miles on our tandem. Still having some major fit issues (and the seatpost slid down 4cm, I discovered when I got home), so I'm a little sorer than I should be. Also still having some mechanical problems with the tandem.

Beautiful day to be out riding, though. And we went with another couple (also on a tandem). A nice lunch stop and mini shopping trip in the middle.

ETA: here are a friends videos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ejchang/3412830890/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ejchang/3412271099/

We're on the other tandem (not that you can see much of us:))

CA

[Crankin]

I did my first climb of Oak Hill today. We were going to do a 27 mile ride from Acton to Littleton, Harvard, Bolton, Stow, Boxboro, and back, but it was 52 and cloudy when we left and the winds were gusting up to 30 or so. I started sweating like crazy on a climb at about mile 4. Then we started up Oak Hill. I decided to get in the zone and not really try. However, my speed for the 4 mile climb was not much lower than it usually is, except for when the wind was blowing so hard, I could barely move. At one point as I was going over a highway overpass, I got blown to the other side of the road and thought for sure I was going down, but, it stopped. When we got to Harvard Center, we ate a snack and decided to cut the ride short from here. It was getting colder and rain was threatening. As we headed out from here, there were a lot of cars, something going on at the school. I saw one of my former neighbors, who yelled out to me, which was nice, since I was climbing. At this point my DH and my friend's DH took off. I was essentially on my own for the last 12 miles, except for one point where my friend passed me on a downhill, but then I dropped her. I was freezing! I had on very light weight wool socks and toe covers, which were not doing the job. After I got past my old neighborhood, I started booking it; I felt some rain drops, too. The wind made it virtually impossible to get above 16 except for the last 2 miles, where I did push it.
My legs felt dead from running yesterday, but they are fine now. I hope to do a flat 20 mile ride tomorrow before I have to go to that shower...

[skinimini]

Easy 26 miles on the Silver Comet Trail today. I'm finally getting used to the road shoes--only one minor topple and that was dew related. It was, however, right in front of several other people. :o Beautiful, pollen-filled, spring day in Atlanta!

[Tuckervill]

We did the club ride with lunch at the Flying Burrito after for a club meeting. It was so darned windy! It took us a good hour and a half to go 15 miles! I mean, 30 mph sustained winds, and one gust moved me sideways through an intersection in front of traffic. ::yikes:: I was terrified every time someone came up to chat because I was moving all over the road.

My new bike was perfect, except the seat was down a little too low and I had to adjust it about two miles in. Now my knees are screaming.

Karen

[Mr. Bloom]

My strongest ride yet on the identical course along the windy Ohio River.

20 miles @ 19mph

[Fredwina]

Route 66! Keep heading west and we'll meet you at the Chain of Rocks bridge in St. Louis!

I did 37--DH did 49 (he left from the house) on the Katy Trail. Sunny and 65--snow forecast tomorrow. Lunch at the Blumenhof Winery. Ripping winds out of the east gusting 20 on the way back. Saw some boy scouts pack it in. I had to stop to drink or when I took my hand off, it would blow me over!

Took me until July last year to build up to that mileage :D
you're as bad as I am!
If I head, I'll wind up at the Santa Monica Pier:p it's probably too late to start east this year ( going through the Mojave desert)

[Aggie_Ama]

Decided with allergies in full fighting form and winds blowing hard I would go shopping for cacti and succulents out in the Hill County. :o I am such a fair weather cyclist but I did get some neat plants.

[emily_in_nc]

:eek: I had no idea it had been so long 'til I checked my log; have been strictly riding MTB with a work friend since DH got heavily into baseball last year, so we just didn't ride at all last year. It was great to be back on the road! We rode 3.5 miles to the post office, then took a longer way back home for a total of 13 miles. It was 74 degrees, sunny, breezy, and I felt GREAT! :) :D No dogs, no irate drivers, light traffic on rural roads. At one point we had a tailwind and were sailing over little rollers at 19 mph -- such fun! I felt strong, so I guess the MTB, running, Pilates, etc has kept me in pretty good shape, despite no road riding. I've been in a great mood ever since the ride too - weeeeeee! :D

[ASammy1]

Rode 53 miles today for the first time ever! Started off in Jamestown, made our way to and through Colonial Williamsburg, and then Yorktown. Then took the same route back. We got lost twice but eventually found our way back on track.

Before today, the longest ride I've ever done was 30 flat miles through VB farm (flat) country. Today was my first attempt at hills +23 miles more than my longest. I feel good, but I'm exhausted. :D

[Triskeliongirl]

Hi Emily- congrats on getting back on the road bike! Glad to hear you had such a nice time!!

I had a great fast club ride in the Hill Country, 40 miles. Some wind, but a beautiful day, just enough breeze to not overheat. I was joined by a good friend which always makes it nice, and we beat the fast men to the rest stop (although they did ride more than us to get there) which always feels good. I feel so strong on my new bike. I am still amazed at how much difference a bike can make. I ride my older heavier bike during the week, which I think is good training, and it makes weekend rides feel extra special since I notice the difference in weight. -e

[channlluv]

I just did ten miles around Lake Miramar (two loops) today. It was beautiful, clear, sunny, just a tad breezy, and the foot traffic wasn't too bad.

I'll go again tomorrow, and maybe take my daughter for a training swim at the Y pool.

Roxy

[Duck on Wheels]

Sister Trek420 and I rode the Cinderella Classic. 100 km in pretty good weather, tho freezing cold at first and the usual headwind stretch after lunch. We didn't do great time. Trek hasn't been training for this and I'm just plain slow in spite of all my training, but we did finish. For me, this was my very first century :D While I don't feel like I could go out and do it again tomorrow, it does show that I'm on track for the ALC come June. According to the training plan we were sent, my longest ride this week should be about 70 miles. The Cindy was 66.5 this year. A bit more than 100k, I think, but doing the extra distance puts me nearer my training goal for the week. Now Trek needs to shower, pack, take the dog for a walk. Then we all (including doggie Mae) drive up to the mutual mom's for what's left of the weekend.

[Violara]

Rode 36 miles at an organized ride in the Hill Country. Today was the first day i felt like a cyclist. It was a beautiful day, windy but I'm getting used to that!

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

With the sun out and a beautiful 73 degree day, I wasn't about to let 27-30mph south winds keep me off the roads. :eek:

It sure was interesting trying to keep it "rubber side down" though... wee.

I was also on the Katy Trail yesterday, Cunning! I had the toughest time with crosswinds while on that. Don't know what I was thinking...picking that route.. but anyway.. Managed 37miles yesterday and 28 Friday afternoon. I've gotten to test two lovely short/steep hills with the new sexy beast -STILL NO NAME! Ugh! She did GREAT though! I LOVE this bike!!!!

[Tri Girl]

I rode 35 at the Redbud Classic road ride. Longest ride so far this year, as trainers and long distances just don't mix with my anatomy.
Baby Blue is right- the wind was CRAZY. Mostly crosswinds on the course, but if you weren't careful it would knock you over a couple feet (not so good in crowds of riders).
I had fun, tho, and got to see a newborn horse (don't know if it's called a foal or colt) eating hay with mom. It was a great day for riding!!! :)

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

I rode 35 at the Redbud Classic road ride. Longest ride so far this year, as trainers and long distances just don't mix with my anatomy.


Doggone! I keep MISSING the Redbud! Roar!!! That's one I always say I wanna drive down to OKC for. I'm gonna set a reminder on my iPhone right now for next yr!

TriGirl.. you coming up for Tulsa Tough or Flower Power?

[Tri Girl]

Redbud is always a crap-shoot as for the weather. The last few years have been FREEZING, and two years ago it was snowing. This year it was cool (low 50's), but crazy windy. You just never know what you're gonna get. :)

I soooo want to do Tulsa Tough, but can't this year. I'm the assistant race director for a weekend of triathlons that our club puts on- and the races are that weekend. :( I'm going to make it out there to do that one... someday. :)

When is Flower Power?

[sundial]

Did 32 miles and averaged 23 mph on the way home. :) It was sunny, slightly breezy, and just a nice spring day.

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

Redbud is always a crap-shoot as for the weather. The last few years have been FREEZING, and two years ago it was snowing. This year it was cool (low 50's), but crazy windy. You just never know what you're gonna get. :)

I soooo want to do Tulsa Tough, but can't this year. I'm the assistant race director for a weekend of triathlons that our club puts on- and the races are that weekend. :( I'm going to make it out there to do that one... someday. :)

When is Flower Power?

April 25th in Muskogee. It a great ride.
Aww man! Sorry you can't make it to TT this yr. Hope to see you there sometime. It's a great weekend of riding and racing. :-)

[kfergos]

What's with spring and wind? Rode 35 miles into a 20-mph headwind with gusts up to 40 mph (I'm sure that's nothing to some of you ladies out in the plains, but here in MA that's horrible). The additional 17 miles I rode with the wind, though, and that almost made up for it. But somehow 45°F, high winds, and the occasional drizzle didn't make for a very fun 52-mile ride. Thankfully my feet did thaw out when I got home -- I have no clue why I thought skipping the booties would be a good idea. :(

Question about wind: Do big guys get blown around as much as small women? I wouldn't think so but I thought I'd ask. I'm 108 lbs, and I ended up creeping down a good downhill I'd usually fly down because of the side-wind gusts. I was afraid I'd lose control of my bike; I got blown hard several times and that scared me. A guy whizzed by me and I wondered if he had an advantage in not being blown around because of his greater mass.

[katluvr]

Considering I live in Florida and my first MS Bike ride weekend is coming up in 2 weeks...it is about time I get this done!

81 miles on Sat. Did about 24 of hills (the hard rollers--as hard as it gets in FL) and then long time on the flats. Definitely SLOW. And normally have hit this distance before now most seasons.

Weather was nice....although getting quite warm in the afternoon. Wind was low (it is right before the front is coming) so that was NICE!

Followed it up w/ a 50 miler...again 1/2 of it "them hills". Since my MS Bike ride is Houston to Austin--I have heard there are some "hills" near Austin. Hope I am ready!

Tired today...more sleepy...but body is holding up OK.

[woohoo]

I rode from home to Luss on Saturday along the side of Loch Lomond, about 20miles. Fairly scenic, and my perseverence through the wind and rain was rewarded with about 5 minutes of non-horizontal rain (in which I took these pics) and a stunning rainbow across towards the islands on the Loch. :D

[Tri Girl]

April 25th in Muskogee. It a great ride.
Aww man! Sorry you can't make it to TT this yr. Hope to see you there sometime. It's a great weekend of riding and racing. :-)

DANG! That's the day before the Memorial Marathon and I'm working the Expo at the Marathon for our tri club (and running the next day- not the marathon, tho). MAN- strike 2. ;)
Ok- I'm going to get up there and ride sometime. I did the inaugural Dickens of a Ride in Claremore and LOVED the riding up there. I'm planning on making it back for that one this year.

Beautiful pics, woohoo!

[Tri Girl]

What's with spring and wind?
I don't know. That's some good wind you had. We haven't had a day with less than 20+ mph sustained winds in what seems like months- we've had days when it's blown less, but since January it blows all the time and with gale force. It's only supposed to be blowing 15 tomorrow and I'm so excited. I keep dreaming of a place where the wind doesn't blow like madness ALL THE TIME. Grrrr...


Question about wind: Do big guys get blown around as much as small women?
I'm 165 and I get blown around like crazy in winds like you described. I have to be careful or I can be moved around like nothing. My DH is about 30 lbs heavier than me and he gets blown around, too, when the wind is 30-50. I think you just can't compete with the wind no matter how much you weigh, but you surely move more being so much lighter.