Rides -- week of November 29 to December 5

[owlice]

(Trying a new format for grins; don't know whether it'll work!)

I took a 21-mile ride today, mostly on the trail closest to my house. It was GREAT weather for riding: low 60s, sunny, just great! I felt a little cool when I first started out, but once I was warmed up, the temperature was perfect!

And! And!! And!!! It finally happened!!!! I passed a couple of people!!!!! :eek: :eek: And they weren't six-year-olds with training wheels this time, either!!!! They were adults under 80!! Even under 60!!!! And I passed them!!!!

That just soooo never happens to me!!

[shootingstar]

:o Not sure if I can remember the events of the whole week since I don't keep a daily cycling journal anymore.

So I can only remember since last Thurs. I can barely remember the weather for the days I rode. Except Thurs. and Fri. were great.

I can't remember if I cycled on Wed.
Thurs. -18 kms.
Fri.- 46 kms.
Sat.- did not cycle
today- 12 kms. Wuss me. :p

This is nearly too much thinking for me. :rolleyes::o :)

[tulip]

No riding for at least a month because of a wrist injury. I got a trainer and will be on that daily so that when my wrist heals, I'll be in some sort of shape to ride.

[owlice]

shootingstar, I was thinking this thread could be for rides for this week, starting today, because if I tried to make it for last week, I'm sure I couldn't remember my earlier rides!! :)

tulip, ouch! What happened to your wrist?

[tulip]

tendonitis from too much typing and mousing during a recent work crunch that lasted a month. Rest, ice, rest, and more rest.

[owlice]

:( I hope it gets better quickly!

[OakLeaf]

yow, heal quick. :(

[7rider]

Those mice can be hazardous!

Today (Sunday) was one of those days for which it is impossible to dress. Mid-30s (1.6 C) at the start of the ride, mid-50s (13 C) by the end. At the mid-point regroup spot, folks were shedding all kinds of layers! :eek:

The Sunday shop ride's C-ride has ceased to function. Most of the mainstays leave earlier, chosing to do their own ride. Sometimes, I do that. Today, I chose to do the B-ride with DH and the usual suspects from the N2 and other rides. Made for a challenging morning workout. Fortunately, many of them had a 4-day holiday weekend, and rode hard all weekend. Since I didn't (a-ha! my ploy worked!), their legs were mush, and I could ride with them.

Consequently, it was a really fun ride. It was a huge group (as per usual, lately). I ended up with 34 miles (54 km) at 17.9 mph (28.8 kph) average.

[jesvetmed]

Just a short 12 mile ride to lunch for me today with a friend who is recovering from shoulder surgery. No much of a ride -- but it was the first time in a while I left the indoor trainer and actually ventured out of doors! :D It was WONDERFUL! The rain stopped for several hours today and it wasn't too cold.. just a bit windy. It was so great to get out! Last two rides this week were on the trainer.

Get well soon, Tulip!

[redrhodie]

I was desperate for a ride, since I had taken 4 days off due to overexertion with some weights the other night, thanks to Lance Armstrong. Anyhoo, the forecast was for rain today, so I didn't want to commute. 15 miles in the dark is one thing, 15 miles in the dark and rain, I'm not ready for (probably never will be). So, I got on the bike early enough to do a fast paced 20 miles, and still managed a shower and 2 breakfasts before I left for work! I think I may do this some more.

[shootingstar]

14 windy kms. Stopped raining but gusty winds. When oceans waves lap over a bike path, that means quite windy. Watching a light seaplane fly above me in its take-off..it seemed to struggle in the headwind.

[redrhodie]

New pavement is finally laid on the 2 steepest hills I regularly climb. Oh so nice :). I rode out this morning to see, and was greeted with blacktop as smooth as silk. The streets used to be so rutted that the descents were scary, and I lost a lot of climbing-energy navigating the potholes back up. If the paving crew was still there, they might have gotten kissed :D.

Gorgeous day, fun ride.

[Crankin]

It was nice. I have been a bit under the weather, with my typical allergy/viral thing, so my compromise was to ride my bike to town and do some holiday shopping, instead of a road ride. I got decked out in my wool, so i would look stylish when I saw those insufferable "Concord ladies" lunching at the cafe... I even wore a scarf!
I bought myself a nice turkey sandwich, and got all of my shopping accomplished. It had become considerably warmer when I left and the wool was starting to make me sweat, so I went home instead of going to the handcraft store in the next town (it's actually closer to my house). I did the Cyclo-Core 8 minute power yoga and stretch, to finish the day.
A grand total of 7.75 miles.

[Owlie]

New pavement is finally laid on the 2 steepest hills I regularly climb. Oh so nice :). I rode out this morning to see, and was greeted with blacktop as smooth as silk. The streets used to be so rutted that the descents were scary, and I lost a lot of climbing-energy navigating the potholes back up. If the paving crew was still there, they might have gotten kissed :D.

Gorgeous day, fun ride.

If they were still there, I'd have to ask you to send them over here so they could re-pave the major hill around here!

[owlice]

Thirteen windy miles for me today, on what could be a hybrid commute path. This is the second time I've ridden this route with a hybrid commute in mind. Getting from work to where my car would be left in the morning took me 51 minutes! :eek: Some of that was wasted time, however, as I took a wrong turn, had to stop when riding over cobblestones (!) I shouldn't have been on at all to reattach my water bottle (!!), and then had to get to where I was supposed to be. But that's why I do trial rides, right? Right??

The ride back was faster, but still took too long for commuting. The path is really bumpy in parts, and made it exceedingly obvious that parts of me need much more support than they are getting. It also has some little sharply steep bits which have me panting and granny gearing to get up them.

Obviously I will need to do this route many more times; those little hilly bits are good for me, aren't they? :)

[redrhodie]

Thirteen windy miles for me today, on what could be a hybrid commute path. This is the second time I've ridden this route with a hybrid commute in mind. Getting from work to where my car would be left in the morning took me 51 minutes! :eek: Some of that was wasted time, however, as I took a wrong turn, had to stop when riding over cobblestones (!) I shouldn't have been on at all to reattach my water bottle (!!), and then had to get to where I was supposed to be. But that's why I do trial rides, right? Right??

The ride back was faster, but still took too long for commuting. The path is really bumpy in parts, and made it exceedingly obvious that parts of me need much more support than they are getting. It also has some little sharply steep bits which have me panting and granny gearing to get up them.

Obviously I will need to do this route many more times; those little hilly bits are good for me, aren't they? :)

51 minutes is good! The bike section of my commute takes me longer than that (but I take the scenic route :rolleyes:).

[kenyonchris]

Such terrible weather here. I did about 12 miles on the bike early this week while on patrol, but they don't even count.
Otherwise ran, gymmed it, and am still struggling along on the rollers.

[redrhodie]

Such terrible weather here. I did about 12 miles on the bike early this week while on patrol, but they don't even count.
Otherwise ran, gymmed it, and am still struggling along on the rollers.

I saw on the national news--do you have snow?! In Texas?! Crazy. We've had a nice long warm spell in southern New England, nearly 70º yesterday, even walked the dogs without a jacket.

Today I was on the bike at 7:30 am despite a sleepless night. I knew if I didn't ride, I'd feel awful. Seems counterintuitive, but riding actually helps me if I'm sleep deprived. Must be the endorphins. Did around 21 miles. Feel better than when I got up, that's for sure.

[kenyonchris]

I saw on the national news--do you have snow?! In Texas?! Crazy. We've had a nice long warm spell in southern New England, nearly 70º yesterday, even walked the dogs without a jacket.

Today I was on the bike at 7:30 am despite a sleepless night. I knew if I didn't ride, I'd feel awful. Seems counterintuitive, but riding actually helps me if I'm sleep deprived. Must be the endorphins. Did around 21 miles. Feel better than when I got up, that's for sure.

Yep, we had snow on Wed. morning. It didn't stick. It is really, really cold here. I am on the horse tonight for a Christmas festival, I am DREADING it. I am going to work out in the gym for a bit.

[shootingstar]

Yesterday rode 15 kms.
Today will be 22 kms. by end of day. Each morning, it's now taking more notice of frost and hoping black ice patches have melted off, especially areas facing open water bodies (ie. ocean). The good thing is that hardly anyone is around on these protected paths when am on the bike in morning.

[owlice]

Just returned from an 11-mile ride around the Lincoln Memorial, down the Reflecting Pool, and over to Hains Point, which I rode around 2x, and then back. Saw a cormorant taking off and a Bald Eagle (!!) in a tree on Hains Point.

It is 49°F and cloudy. Was just a mite chilly starting out, but once I was warmed up, two layers was definitely enough! (Biking shorts and thin sweats; mock t-neck with a regular t-shirt over it. This is stuff I'm still figuring out, because I haven't in the past ridden in cool weather.)

Forecast is for rain and snow and general winter slop tomorrow, so I'm glad I rode today!


51 minutes is good!

redrhodie, thanks! My average MPH was something like 8.2. I'd like to get it closer to 10 to make the ride in more reasonable, as I have to drive most of the way (timewise) to work before starting to bike anyway!

[Chile Pepper]

I've been trying hard not to whine or complain, but I'm also on the DL--and I've had enough already! I threw my back out last week and spent last weekend in bed. I went to the chiropractor on Monday, but one session wasn't enough. This is a holiday weekend here, so they can't see me again in until next Thursday. Ugh. That means it'll wind up being two weeks off from exercise, and I'm really going stir crazy. And my back hurts. And it's a beautiful day for riding. :mad:

[chicagogal]

Oh, it is getting chilly hear in Chicago! But really, at 25-30F in December, it could really be MUCH colder, so I can't complain too much. Today was my first day on the bike in a few days (since the temperatures dropped). Got a small group together for a low-key 30mi ride that involved a coffee/food/get warm stop at our midway point. It wasn't the distance or intensity we are used to, but given the cold, the point of the ride was "to just get on our bikes despite the weather." It definitely helps me to have people to ride with when the weather turns, as I must admit that I have trouble motivating myself to get out in the cold alone. However, with the right layers, I really wasn't as cold as I had feared!

I plan on riding tomorrow too (and am looking forward to it) - wanna log some more (easy) miles before we are under a foot of snow and the temps drop to 20 below!

[Crankin]

Did my first trainer ride of the season. Does that count? Thirty minutes of spin ups and super spins, punctuated by some easy spinning.
We were supposed to ride tomorrow (outside), but since there will be snow on the ground in the AM, the ride will probably turn into a hike or snow shoe.

[azfiddle]

I rode 14 miles Tuesday after work, it was getting dark after half an hour but I was with a buddy and we both had lights so I didn't mind, 8 miles on the loop road through Saguaro National Park on Weds after work. It used to take me 42 minutes, and lately it's closer to 36- there is a significant hill (a mile and 1/4 in the middle of the loop.

The fun ride was today, Saturday Dec 5! It was organized by a local bike club: "Toys for Tots Ride" from a park to the zoo, with over 60 riders with decorated bikes, holiday costumes and everyone had to pack a toy. I wired a little basket onto the front on my bike and put three little puppies (stuffed animals!) so they could peek out on the 17 mile ride to the zoo. It was really fun. A little cool for starting weather in Tucson (41 degrees) but warmed up to the low 50's by the time we got to the zoo, and around 60 by the ride home.

If you want to see pics, they are here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/dadgad1/20091205?feat=email#

[Fredwina]

I've not been very happy about out club ride turning into a "training race" so I zigged today and did one of my favorite rides : Lytle Creek Canyon
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/Sxr4wSOI-xI/AAAAAAAAFJo/QsWh2yBUTLo/s640/101_0265.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/Sxr4xCoYh8I/AAAAAAAAFJs/Zr0Yl1pnlAs/s640/101_0267.jpg
This used to be a flag pole:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/Sxr4yXnsfvI/AAAAAAAAFJw/gkRrIuvWqe0/s640/101_0268.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/Sxr4zKCovWI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/D5juGV4I9PY/s640/101_0270.jpg
I made to Scotland (California):
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/Sxr4z_FkfeI/AAAAAAAAFJ4/wcaITULLyeE/s640/101_0271.jpg
I was going to going to go all the way to the end of pavement, but I had two flat tire, so I turned around at the Campground:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/Sxr4097A0SI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/Ixbd9-Dsn6Q/s640/101_0272.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/Sxr42XE-txI/AAAAAAAAFKA/ry-NH_vzf2Q/s640/101_0273.jpg