March 6 Rides

[limewave]

Got in another 15 miles today. That's 45 total miles for me this week. I don't think I've ever gotten that much mileage in the first week of March ever.

About 3 miles the bolt in my crank fell out! I'm riding along, pedaling with one foot, the other has the crank dangling from my cleat :) I blanked on the best way to stop so I kept pedaling like this for another mile. Finally I unclipped my other foot and "tipped" into a snow bank :)

Special Thank you to my parents for watching the kids so DH and I could "sneak" out together.

[Bike Chick]

Oh how scary, Lime! :eek: It sounds like you got your ride finished though.

I got 20 miles in this afternoon and it felt glorious! It was actually in the 50's and the sun was shining. Could it be...........is it really........spring???? I sure hope so:)

[azfiddle]

I wouldn't have had any idea what to do! Glad you got home okay.

I went 46 miles today with a group. I can keep up with them for part of the ride, and eventually I fall behind, but they waited for me. I ran over a big metal construction staple- it was the first flat I've experienced while I was actually still riding. Every other time, the flat showed up at the end of ride or the next morning. I had help on changing the tire- I could have done it, but it would have taken me longer.

Still perfect riding weather out here in the desert, but it's going to rain again tomorrow.

[shootingstar]

Good thing you could fall gently into snowbank, limewave.

We did 38 kms. Lots of photo shooting since the cherry tree blossoms are out early this year. Sunny, bright and cool still. We both needed photos each for different reasons. I'm doing an article for an organization related to cycling and he for a document to try to bring in a European cycling conference to our city, as the host city.

If this happens, it will be a feat.

[Crankin]

Did my first road bike ride of the year. Fourteen hilly miles. Remind me not to run the day before riding.
It was gorgeous, 54 out, bright sun. Although my average was pitiful, I feel great now.
Tomorrow will be a longer ride, about 30 miles.

[kmehrzad]

Got in 45 miles today. It was 51 degrees and a bit windy going NW, but I was sailing on my return trip. Looking forward to tomorrow's ride; temperature is expected in the upper 50's with less wind.

[7rider]

I think I'm going to write "STOP WHINING!" along my top tube in a Sharpie.

DH and I went out for a 27 mile loop through Howard County, north of us, today. It was cool (36F/~3C) and, per usual, I was having difficulty breathing for the first 10 miles or so. My lower back was aching, too. I wanted to just head out to Route 108 and turn around, turn it into a 18 mile ride. But I said nothing when DH took the right that was the loop route, and I followed. I hung off the back so I could better see all the winter's new pot holes. Wah, wah, wah. Hills. Cold. Headwind. Not happy at all. :(

I've been in a really negative state about my riding lately. Not doing enough of it. Not fast enough. Always getting dropped by the group. Not really caring, cuz I really don't want to play with them anymore. Wah. I wanna pick up my marbles and go home! :mad:

So, that was my mindset for the ride.

On the way home, we saw a friend of ours heading out. He turned around and we spent the next half hour (:eek:) pulled off the side of the road, chewing the fat. He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around. The friend reminded me that I really need to get that negative monkey off my back. That devil on my shoulder that whispers in my ear "I can't." "I can't climb that hill." "I can't hang with the group." "I can't..."

Arrrrgghhhh.... He's been my passenger for so long, I don't know how to be rid of him. Any ideas?

[kmehrzad]

He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around.


What's the training camp you're referring to? Cycling related or Boot Camp? How to get the whiner off your shoulder? Hmmm, I always tend to focus on my surroundings during a ride and that puts me in a better mood (the trees, the birds darting back and forth, the cloud formations against a blue sky, etc.) - it's simple but works for me.

[Fredwina]

Not quite as bad as limewave, but still puts an end to your day:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/S5LYD5FmM9I/AAAAAAAAGho/DcWDxe0snWU/s640/101_0583.jpg
and the weather didn't look good:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vuerRrNlUQI/S5LYDTHQnpI/AAAAAAAAGhk/TYKqsCduops/s640/101_0582.jpg
But got in 45 out of 50 (went home and switched bikes!)

[pfunk12]

I've been in a really negative state about my riding lately. Not doing enough of it. Not fast enough. Always getting dropped by the group. Not really caring, cuz I really don't want to play with them anymore. Wah. I wanna pick up my marbles and go home! :mad:

So, that was my mindset for the ride.

On the way home, we saw a friend of ours heading out. He turned around and we spent the next half hour (:eek:) pulled off the side of the road, chewing the fat. He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around. The friend reminded me that I really need to get that negative monkey off my back. That devil on my shoulder that whispers in my ear "I can't." "I can't climb that hill." "I can't hang with the group." "I can't..."

Arrrrgghhhh.... He's been my passenger for so long, I don't know how to be rid of him. Any ideas?

Okay...first of all, we like playing with you even if you don't want to play with us anymore :(. And we miss you out there! From what I know (and I'm very familiar with what's going on with you), your riding has been extremely inconsistent and almost non-existent recently - mostly because of the weather (snowstorms, black ice, cold and your infamous iceberg). And also, you and Tom were taking advantage of all the snow and skiing a lot and that's cool. Hopefully, you can start commuting again soon and then you'll eventually start doing the group rides because you will regain your confidence and your riding will get stronger. Wait a minute. Who am I to give you advice about cycing?! You're my mentor! :D But seriously, you know that if you were riding consistently, you can hang with the Saturday and Sunday group on any day.

I think the training camp sounds like a great idea.

[pfunk12]

Should have posted this in my last e-mail but I'm tired and I forgot. :) I did the N2 group ride this morning. It was a good turnout because the weather was nice but still chilly - 33 degrees when we started. I couldn't add on and do the Poolesville route because I had to be somewhere early in the afternoon. Only 4 of us did the shorter route but me and one of the guys added on mileage in the end. So I ended up with 55 miles. It was a gorgeous day.

[Catrin]

I am looking forward so much to being able to get out and do a "real" ride instead of going around a drive circling a campground - however I did enough laps today to rack up 12 miles on my odometer :D Hey, small steps first and I am most persistent when I have a goal :p

[HillSlugger]

I was really excited to get out and a ride with some people from my tri club. I fell behind before we had even gone a mile. There was no way I could hang with them and they left me in the dust. I did only 20 of the planned 32 miles. It wasn't any fun at all.

My legs have felt terrible for several months now, always tight, no spring. I wish I had a clue how to turn this around.

[Red Rock]

Well I think I did somewhere around 20-25 miles today. It was very blustery with rain clouds moving in. I was a ble to catch the ride before the real clouds moved in. There were periods where I was facing a head on wind. I think I did enough in the wind to burn extra calories, as well as, getting an extra good workout.

I did my "normal" route that goes through neighborhoods. Went to a park area ate a Mojo bar and drank water. Then I got back on the bike and was thinking to perhaps end my ride where I normally do. By this time the wind had really picked up, so I had second thoughts. My knee tendon, on the kneecap, was acting up also in both knees so that added to the decision. At the rest stop, I lowered my saddle some to see if that would help.

Then I headed for home. There is an area where you come in towards a major intersection that has always bothered me, so I was thinking of ways to avoid the whole thing. I went around through another section of town, going south, and was able to connect to a bike path. This ended up being much better.

It also got me thinking how I might be able to do my normal route but then add on this southern route for more miles. It was like wow, I could do a major cyle tour all around town. I just need to get my mileage up along with better condioning to before I even venture to think about doing something like the two routes combined.

P.S. I have also seen more Ironmen out riding different areas of the bike section. I was even wondering I might see Fatty and the Runner out riding. The other day, I saw someone in the whole Mellow Jonny's bike shop kit too. I thought , gee is that Lance?

Red Rock

[andtckrtoo]

Met up with my boss and his wife and did 25 miles over to Santa Cruz. Their daughter SAG'd for us, and drove us back. Gorgeous day, a great climb and an awesome descent, and some wonderful scenery. I really enjoyed it. I was also thrilled that my first climb of the season was so easy. :p

[Miranda]

Nothing epic to post, other than this week first ride of the year... sorta.:rolleyes: Two whopping laps around the sub on the roadie for 1.5mi in the chilly but sunny midwest weather... and today took my mtb out on road to local park to meet the fm walking the dog. Just a few miles, but felt great to get outside!:) Hooray for Spring thaw!:cool:

[Owlie]

Today's ride was a bit of an adventure to say the least. I went out on the bike trail this morning. It was warmish (40s), but there was still snow and ice in the shady spots...a lot of snow and ice. I decided to go north on the trail rather than south as I normally do. Much of that part of the trail, it seems, is shaded. There were spots where you could conceivably get a road bike through. I guess I freaked out a bit, because I fell. Twice. The first time, I scraped my chin on the ice (nothing major, thankfully). I put the chain back on and walked until the path cleared. The second time, I fell on my shoulder and scraped up my knee. (I have no idea how I did that.) I was having trouble getting the chain back on, and this guy rode up and offers to help. We got the chain back on. It turned out he was from Texas, and not used to this whole snow-and-ice thing. He tried giving me the "keep your eyes on the road and you'll be fine" talk. It didn't work. :rolleyes: I walked the bike again until it cleared.
I rode about 20 miles today, walking the spots where most of the trail was covered. I wasnt't the only one who wasn't expecting ice--I saw lots of roadies taking advantage of the first warm day in a while walking their bikes. I also found out that ODNR doesn't see fit to keep their restrooms open between November and April. This resulted in a hunt for a suitable clump of bushes or trees. :o Winter is not the time to be doing so. About 2/3 of the way through, I found myself wondering why my legs felt so tired. (I mean, I know I haven't done much since winter break, but really!) I stopped to get a drink of my fakerade (lemon juice, sugar and a bit of salt in water) and happened to look down--I was in my big chain ring and my highest gear. No wonder!

I ran into the Texan again in the parking lot--it turns out he fell several times after we parted ways.

[7rider]

He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around.


What's the training camp you're referring to? Cycling related or Boot Camp? How to get the whiner off your shoulder? Hmmm, I always tend to focus on my surroundings during a ride and that puts me in a better mood (the trees, the birds darting back and forth, the cloud formations against a blue sky, etc.) - it's simple but works for me.

It's a Spring Training Camp in the Blue Ridge Mtns of VA (http://www.ahealinghand.com/bicyclecoach/camps/camps10.html). Fortunately, it appears to be full, not that we could afford it anyway (and I don't think I could handle a full week with that coach w/o going absolutely Postal on someone. :rolleyes:).

I've actually thrown out my back watching birds from my bike (and ridden my bike completely off the road!). Birdwatching + bike riding = very bad for my health! :p My main problem is I am faster than the slow riders and slower than the fast riders, so I'm forever stuck in no-man's land on each group ride.

[marni]

The SAG guy and I got in a 30 miler in spite of 20 mph headwinds for at least half of the trip. At least the temps were warm enough for a short sleeved jersey and no wind vest. I'm not sure whether he was holding back a bit or whether the jogging intervals are paying off but I actually passed him and pulled him through most of the headwinds and at a reasonable seed for me. After 2 weeks back on the bike after the accident and after a full week or training, I am starting to feel a bit more like myself and am getting my "I ain't scared of no headwinds" attitude back.

marni

[kmehrzad]

It's a Spring Training Camp in the Blue Ridge Mtns of VA (http://www.ahealinghand.com/bicyclecoach/camps/camps10.html). (and I don't think I could handle a full week with that coach w/o going absolutely Postal on someone. :rolleyes:).

I've actually thrown out my back watching birds from my bike (and ridden my bike completely off the road!). Birdwatching + bike riding = very bad for my health! :p My main problem is I am faster than the slow riders and slower than the fast riders, so I'm forever stuck in no-man's land on each group ride.

LOL --- So there's a possibility you'd go Postal on Coach Josh, eh? I agree, you've got to be in the right frame of mind to ride a week's worth of "90 - 100 mile days, and finish feeling like you did all you could do. And then get up the next day and do another 50 just to make sure." :o

[Crankin]

7rider, I have the same monkey on my back. I have got to get rid of the negativity. I am actually getting weird anxiety things before riding, although it doesn't stop me... some of it is my total lack of mechanical ability, still after almost 10 years of riding. I'm trying to give myself a dose of my own medicine: deep breathing and positive self talk.
I have always been too fast for the slow group and too slow for the fast group. Of course, this depends who you ride with, but it seems like I peaked in 2006 and it's been downhill since then.

[redrhodie]

I did a 29 mile RT commute. Gorgeous day, and not much traffic since it was Sat. I did 92 miles this week.

[HillSlugger]

I was really excited to get out and a ride with some people from my tri club. I fell behind before we had even gone a mile. There was no way I could hang with them and they left me in the dust. I did only 20 of the planned 32 miles. It wasn't any fun at all.

My legs have felt terrible for several months now, always tight, no spring. I wish I had a clue how to turn this around.

When I posted this yesterday I didn't spell out the fact after I fell off the group nobody came back to check up on me. Later in the afternoon I got an email from one of the other gals on the ride. She said that they didn't realize that they had lost me and that when they realized, they thought I was with someone and that all was OK, and only much later realized I was alone. She concluded by saying she felt bad about this, a rather weak apology. I responded by saying that I had a terrible ride, wouldn't have wanted to hold the group back, but that it would have been nice to have someone check on me.

Today, people are posting on the group email list that they enjoyed the ride, etc, but are not mentioning what happened to me. I'm thinking about posting:

Hmm, it wasn't much fun for me when I got left behind. I wouldn't have wanted to hold the group back but it would have been really nice for someone to have checked up on me. I'm an experienced rider, quite able to take care of myself on a solo ride, but I didn't think I was out on a solo ride. What if I had been a beginner out on a ride with you all? What if something HAD happened to me? Not cool!

Should I post it?

Thanks for letting me vent a bit here.

[shootingstar]

Might be useful just to post a message to the group ride members in friendly tone, Hi there, I missed some of you folks...kind of tone. Hope to see you on next ride...etc. Then mention 1-2 enjoyable things you saw that you wished to share with another rider if someone was around at that time. :rolleyes:

Does this happen often to you with this group? If it's a one-off, then keep it low-key.

[HillSlugger]

Might be useful just to post a message to the group ride members in friendly tone, Hi there, I missed some of you folks...kind of tone. Hope to see you on next ride...etc. Then mention 1-2 enjoyable things you saw that you wished to share with another rider if someone was around at that time. :rolleyes:

Does this happen often to you with this group? If it's a one-off, then keep it low-key.

This was the first time I rode with them. I don't know if this has ever happened before to anyone else. I don't know if this was a "sanctioned Group ride". There wasn't really anyone in charge. We had been discussing an anticipated average speed and my riding was so bad that I didn't end up in that range. I (childishly?) feel like I'm owed an apology but I don't really want to get anyone in trouble.

I think the true bottom line is how to we keep this from happening again to that newbie who might not be able to fend for themselves? Should I take this directly to the club president?

[HillSlugger]

I've cooled down (again) and decided that I'm best off discussing this with the club president:

Hi <name>,

I'd like to let you know about something that happened on Saturday's group ride. About 8 of us met at Centennial to ride a loop of the Half Full bike route. Before the ride we talked about trying to maintain a 15-17 mph average. As it turned out, I was having a terrible ride and fell off the group before we'd even gone a few miles. I wouldn't have wanted to hold the group back, but nobody even realized they had lost me until very much later so nobody came around to check on me. I'm an experience rider, familiar with most of the roads we were riding, and well capable of taking care of myself on a solo ride so I was never in any danger. However, what if I had been an inexperienced rider unprepared to take care of myself, thinking I was on a group ride? We had never discussed if this was a no-drop ride or anything and I don't think anyone was really leading the ride. Still, from my view there was a real failure of responsibility. From a <Tri Club> perspective, I think there needs to be some sort of expectations for group rides to protect the <Tri Club>. On every ride organized "publicly" through the group email list somebody needs to be in charge and everyone needs to know the rules for the ride before wheels start rolling. I feel like I'm tattling to the teacher, but I thought that you should be aware of this for the good of the <Tri Club>.

Thanks, Nicole

[WindingRoad]

Me and the BF had a great ride yesterday. Was just a toodle really we only went about 28 miles. I was pretty much feeling like poo (first day of Aunt Flo's visit) but I still had fun. Was a little under dressed I think. My BF cracks me up he's always saying he's so weak yet he goes tearing up hills and I eek my way up to meet him and he's not even out of breath. He's a runner by heart so he is NEVER out of breath. I run too, albeit not nearly as long as he had, but I still end up sucking wind on hills. I've got to get better at hills so I can keep up. :)

[tulip]

25 cold miles on Saturday and 42 slightly warmer miles on Sunday. Overall a great weekend of riding.