April 8th rides

[Crankin]

I went on my first group ride of the season today. The weather was so nice that my DH took the day off, to do the ride, too.
We rode slowly to the start, about 4.5 miles away, to warm up. It was a huge group. The original route had to be axed because of all of the local flooding, so we ended up riding back near my house, and mostly on roads I ride a lot, or at least regularly. This group is perfect for me, but lately a "faster" group has been splitting off. This time, a small group of slower people wanted to do a few less miles, so they split off from us. The beginning of the ride had 3 hills, 2 significant and I must say riding with a group got me going and I didn't feel too bad either. I had my fastest speed up Strawberry Hill, found the group of guys I usually hang with on these rides and stayed behind them, while DH stayed in the front of them. We were not up with the leading group, as we didn't want to be human arrows, which this group uses for cues.
It was 53 when we left our house and when we got to the top of Nagog Hill (the last bigger climb) it must have been 70 and humid. The mayflies were buzzing! I shed my bolero and rode in sleeveless for the first time this year. There was one section of torn up road, sort of mountain bike style and that was scary, but other than that, non-eventful. The group stopped at the ski touring center at Great Brook Farm to use the porta-potties, but then after we left, they went to turn into the regular visitor's center at the farm, to use the "regular" bathrooms. I didn't want to wait, so DH and I left the ride and went up the road a couple of miles to Fern's Country Store in Carlisle, meeting place of all cyclists. We hadn't been in there since it was enlarged, so we got some really good sandwiches (I got a turkey, green apple, cranberry, and almond whole wheat wrap) and ate on the rocking chair on the porch. By now it was like 82 out and I was ready to get home. We rode the last 8 miles home in a wicked headwind on full stomachs, but it was OK.
31 miles. At least now I feel ready to lead our ride on Saturday!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I did a very warm sunny 20 mile bike ride today, lots of medium hills. Trying to get slowly back in shape between gardening, biking, and fitness walking. :) Been many months since I rode some of these roads, nice to see them again.

[Jiffer]

Well, I haven't ridden on the 8th yet, but I did ride today. ;)

Did 20 fairly easy miles. Very sore from yesterday's hard club ride and the previous day's intervals on the trainer. Resting tomorrow, easy ride on Friday and then a 40 miler with 4200 feet of climbing. I'm gonna kill it. :D

[makbike]

Far too windy to ride today so I spent the day fishing with my dad. We had a great time.

[kenyonchris]

I had my second electrostim treatment on my back today...I was so sore yesterday I didn't ride, so today I had to get at least some miles in. So I started off on an easy spin of 15 miles with pretty much nothing in the way of hills. Despite the general soreness of my back, it was MUCH better. I had to keep myself from hitting it at my usual 100 percent. Had a hard headwind most of the time, but a fun fly home with the wind at my back.
When I married DH last week, I completed my move to this new city. I love DH, but I hate this city. I would never dream of telling him this...but it is the WORST for cycling. Very busy streets, few hills, and the drivers are NUTS. Some of my comfort level at home was familiarity with the roadways and the knowledge that I knew every cop on the street, so if anything weird happened I had an entire police force behind me. I've hung up my gunbelt to move here, and I HATE it ... so much that I am loading the bike up and driving it home tomorrow (DH is out of town or I wouldn't risk hurting his feelings) for a ride around my old stomping grounds (my house is not on the market yet so I have home base there, empty though it may be). Anyway, today's ride was an exercise in frustration that was tempered by the fact that my back is on the mend.

[Crankin]

OK, it's the 8th today. I guess I was getting ahead of myself...
I went for a "dark" ride this morning at 5 AM. It was lovely out. 58 degrees and the smell of spring in the air. My only issue was that after coming home from class at 10:00 PM last night, I couldn't sleep. Finally got some good sleep between 3 AM and 4:30 and then I got up. DH and I have to ride side by side as much as we can, because our lights kind of blind each of us. But, I sure can see well, considering how bad my night vision is! Saw no other cyclists, and only saw cars when we got to the main road, about 3/4 through the ride.
Only 11 miles and I am exhausted.

[SheFly]

Crankin - if you're exhausted now, wait till later today ;). I started commuting this week, and have left my house two mornings on the bike at 5:30 am. By mid-afternoon, I've been ready for a nap! Great way to start the day though - especially with the weather we have been having and with all of the flora and fauna in bloom.

SheFly

[DebW]

I did the 16 mile commute yesterday afternoon from my office job to my bike shop job, leaving at 1:30 and arriving at 3:00. It was so hot I had to ride slowly up the hills and drank 2 bottles of water. Took me 30 minutes to recover from the heat after I got to the shop. Luckily the ride home starting at 6 pm was much more pleasant.

[annielynn]

I had a great ride last night. There was about 20 of us and we started off and a nice even pace. I had my best ride ever. 19.6 miles with a 17 mpg avg. I was very happy with myself. I was dropped on the last 10 miles of the trip by the first group but was soon picked up by the slower group and came into the parking lot with them. Hubby was able to join us and I think that I shocked him! It has been so long since we were out on a group ride together so this was the first time that he saw me keep a really fast pace. We celebrated with a pizza and beer (I had a coke!) ;) It was an awesome night. I am looking forward to my Saturday group ride. More miles and more people. :)

[Crankin]

SheFly, I usually get up at 5 or 5:30, but that is different than riding at that time. I had to remind myself that until 2 years ago, I exercised at this time all of the time... I taught a *5AM* aerobics class for 4 years and a 6 AM one for a couple of years. I truly don't know how i did this.
When I commuted from Concord to Hudson, I left at 5:45, mostly so I could be at school by 6:45 and get myself cleaned up before anyone saw me (except my boss who always drove by me when I was riding and would be awaiting my arrival like 20 minutes later!).

[makbike]

Where did those sunny skies go? How about those temps in the 80s? It is a gray, gloomy, cool day here today. Took in "The Last Song" with my mom the first part of the day hoping the temperatures would climb into the "warm" zone. Arrived home to find it 57 F - not warm but bearable. I headed out knowing it would be a short ride given the time. Logged 17.7 miles and once again fought the wind - both directions today. I hope the sun returns tomorrow - would love to ride and get some fishing in before heading back to work.