Weekend bike ride!

[Catrin]

I started the weekend with my first bike ride in 2 weeks :) I WANTED to ride much further, but it seemed prudent to make it short until I see if my shoulder treatments will have a positive effect on my symptoms on the bike. While short, I did ride for 40 minutes and even had a very good average speed (for me) of 12.4! There were some symptoms, but not near as bad as it was. I seem to be on the right path :)

I had the entire park to myself, and while part of me is chaffing at not doing any riding outside of the park this year, I am forcing patience on myself. It was a wonderfully cool ride, and how often do we get that at the end of July?

[thekarens]

That's awesome! Congrats!

[Crankin]

Nice, Catrin.
My weekend bike ride is going to be a metric century, tomorrow. It was a good thing I did not choose the century, because it includes climbing Mt. Wachusett, which has a 22% grade near the end. I am in no way ready for that during a century! The metric has 3,200 feet of climbing and enough steep local hills to keep my speed in check. It's supposed to be partly sunny and in the low 80s. Considering the horrible heat, humidity, and rain we've had, I'll take it. The ride is supposed to start at 9, but we are going to get there at 8 and see if we can start.
Food and 2 beers are provided by Redbones, where my DIL is the general manager, as part of the entry fee. I'll be thinking about that to get me through the ride. At about mile 56, we will be very near the end, but there's another 6.2 miles to go, also very close to my house. That will be tough.

[rebeccaC]

Hoping the ‘right path’ continues Catrin!!!!!

After two weekends of hard rides I’m just going to RELAX, go to a spa with a friend, do a dinner for some friends and start reading George Martin’s A Dance with Dragons from his A Song of Ice and Fire series.

[thekarens]

I have to keep reminding myself that Hotter N Hell is in a few short weeks. I need some miles. I'd rather sleep in tomorrow.

[Crankin]

Well, the metric is done.
64 miles, 3,200 feet of climbing. Only 2 roads that were new to me. The big climbs were all starting at mile 30 or so. One I hadn't done in a very long time and the other was on the last metric (I usually ride it going the other way). I liked this ride, although riding by my street at mile 7, wasn't good, and being 2 miles away at mile 59 not so hot, either. Nutrition was good, although I started feeling a little crazed at about 55. At mile 58, I finished my 2nd Lara Bar and drank, and then I was better, knowing 2 beers and a pulled pork sandwhich were waiting.
The ride was supposed to start at 9, with a mass start. We got there at 7:45 and left at around 8:15, after some cajoling with the staff that we wouldn't kill ourselves.
I am pretty tired, but, some of it is the effect of the 2 beers. All in all, nothing is hurting, just normal stiffness, which I have already stretched out.

[velo]

Catrin - that's great that you are getting out on your bike whenever you can and feel good about it. This summer is almost "the one that wasn't" for the midwest, and I for one am grateful. I hate the heat and would happy to just slide into a long autumn at this point.

Crankin - way to go! Sounds like you did everything right and finished strong. Beer can be that kind of motivator, can't it? ;)

[emily_in_nc]

Good for both Catrin and Crankin!

I have been a slug the past few days after our very busy trip to New Mexico. We hiked or biked pretty much every day there, but since getting back on Monday, I've only been on my bike once -- just having a hard time getting motivated. I think that's probably not that atypical after a busy, active vacation. Plus we're packing for another trip today. Tomorrow we're hitting the road to NC (a two-day drive from KC) as my step-father is having knee replacement surgery on Monday. We'll help them out for awhile, then do some preventive doctor appointments while there (since all our doctors are there). I'm sure we'll get some cycling in although the part of NC my mother lives in is not the most cycling friendly, though we're hoping to get up the mountains to do the Virginia Creeper Trail. After all that we'll swing up through Ohio to do some more chores for Barry's folks. They live in a better cycling area, so we may get some riding in then.

[goldfinch]

I did the last two days of RAGBRAI. What an amazing experience. Today the weather and the roads were perfect. Thousands of cyclists with wind at our backs and cool temperatures.

But I ate too much. :)

[Fredwina]

Catrin, Crankin, great for both of you.
I did about 26 miles around town. Broke a spoke, but found out I can get my 'bent in the Fiat!

[rebeccaC]

I did the last two days of RAGBRAI. What an amazing experience. Today the weather and the roads were perfect. Thousands of cyclists with wind at our backs and cool temperatures.

But I ate too much. :)

Sounds like a perfect ragbrai day!!!!...even the eating too much :) I ate more PIE on my ragbrai than during any other week of my life!

My last day had some great hills ending in Dubuque. Where did it end this year?

[goldfinch]

It ended in Fort Madison, with some significant hills on the last day. But with the cool temperatures and the following winds the hills did not feel bad at all as I slogged my way up.

I don't like pie. :(

But I sure like slabs of ham and pork on homemade buns.

[rebeccaC]

How can anyone not like fresh homemade peach pie and vanilla ice cream made by church ladies :)

I'm a vegetarian...but I did see some great pork chops being devoured by many people each day!!! Did your ride make you think of doing the whole ride in the future?

[goldfinch]

I might do the whole thing next year. My spouse said he would follow with the motorhome so at least I would have my own bed each night.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--87pjuHVmtI/UfRigGvWMAI/AAAAAAAAeX0/S-w2F0Mx5aQ/w447-h596-no/DSC03344.JPG

and one of the many porta potty lines:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W2TpGliGg00/UfRik76ivOI/AAAAAAAAeYE/2JMl_SMpZwE/w795-h596-no/DSC03337.JPG

Yesterday, after the rain:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mgz8-JaoBrw/UfL9-BmbtmI/AAAAAAAAeXY/O4EVzh2wxsY/w795-h596-no/DSC03311.JPG

[Crankin]

Kudos to those of you who do this ride, surrounded by so many other riders. I could never do that!
It looks really nice, Goldfinch.

[Catrin]

Part of me would LOVE to do this ride...but I also know how much I dislike being surrounded be large numbers of riders - it makes me very nervous. I couldn't do it, but those of you who do have really accomplished something pretty darn cool! Congrats - and hopefully everyone has nothing but good memories to bring away with it.

[Crankin]

Oh, and to add a tidbit about yesterday. We arrived at the first rest stop, set up at a farm/gourmet market in my town. Only 20 miles ridden, so just a quick top off of water and ice. DH goes to pick up the water jug and the older guy manning the stop (well, older than me) yells, "NO GLOVES!" DH says what? The guy responds, "Take your gloves off, there's sweat and germs." To which DH replies, "They get washed." The guy looks at him and says, "What? You're weird. Mine don't get washed and I don't know anyone who does."
So, apparently the interaction I had with a shop owner about this a few weeks ago was not isolated. Maybe this is common among men over age 65 or 70? It didn't happen at the second stop.
I told the guy at the rest stop that he was disgusting and that I didn't know *anyone* who doesn't wash their gloves.