June 7 ride reports

[Fredwina]

Guess it's my turn to start the thread.
Nothing much. I came up with some modifications to my usual route that resulted in an extra mile. The highlight of the day was a "transportation cyclist". he wanted to "race" me. sigh....

[Duck on Wheels]

So far, 2 miles to the gym, spin class, 2 miles home. Now I need to do some work. In a few hours I ride Sedona the grey work pony for the last time :( over to the bike shop and trade her in on Ruby Slipperz, my new Trek 7.6. :D

[KnottedYet]

8 mile commute. Ended up early to work, so rode down to the beach. Sat on a bench listening to the waves and watching the ferry unload. Then rode back to work right on time.

Meeting up with a friend for a ride on the Burke Gilman tonight.

Edit: We did 13 miles on the BG, said hi to the chickens, raced 2 little bunnies along the trail, and saw the most amazing rider. She was wearing very high wedge heel sandals and pedalling to beat the band. Very impressive. I got to use my new Thule rack.

[uk elephant]

I had great intentions for a fast training ride after work today. Unfortunately I didn't make it. Came up to a sharp corner on a narrow bike path on my way from office to station and an old guy came around the corner in the opposite direction. We both moved over to the same side, and needless to say that didn't work. Unfortunately, it was mostly my fault. This being England, I should have moved to the left as he did. But split second reflexes moved me to my right. I survived with just a few bruises, scrapes on my helmet and my bike seems ok. They old guy had a few scrapes too, but seemed ok other than that despite his bad hip and everything. His bike seemed to have taken the brunt of the blow. I wasn't with it enough to check over things myself, but he said his wheels were bent. I gave him my number and he'll give me a call when he's had his bike checked over. I just hope it's not expensive. I can't afford it.

After the traumatic experience, I just went straight home, put dinner in the oven and collapsed on the couch with a bit of chocolate waiting for BF to come home with a hug. Feel a bit calmer now, but still very worried about the guy and his bike. My first crash ever, bike or car, in all my years of being on wheels. I suppose it had to happen some time. I would just have preferred it to happen without involving other people. I am quite used to hurting myself from just plain clumsyness.

[JoyfulGirl]

woke up under a pile of 4 cats. I think I had a knot in my back for each cat. Didn't feel like moving. Nuhuh. Wasn't going for a bike ride this morning. Luckily the bike was still in the living room and looking at me pleadingly. I caved. road for ten miles. Saw a bunny rabbit and stopped to hang out with him for awhile. I think I enjoyed his company more than he enjoyed mine. Oh well. After my first ten miles 3 weeks ago my legs hurt for 3 days. Today I feel spunky. 21 days to a new habit or something like that.

edited to add- So sorry to hear about your accident UK elephant. I'm glad you're both ok. Crossing fingers about the gentleman's bike. Hope your tomorrow is better.

[Duck on Wheels]

I had great intentions for a fast training ride after work today. Unfortunately I didn't make it. Came up to a sharp corner on a narrow bike path on my way from office to station and an old guy came around the corner in the opposite direction. We both moved over to the same side, and needless to say that didn't work. Unfortunately, it was mostly my fault. This being England, I should have moved to the left as he did. But split second reflexes moved me to my right. I survived with just a few bruises, scrapes on my helmet and my bike seems ok. They old guy had a few scrapes too, but seemed ok other than that despite his bad hip and everything. His bike seemed to have taken the brunt of the blow. I wasn't with it enough to check over things myself, but he said his wheels were bent. I gave him my number and he'll give me a call when he's had his bike checked over. I just hope it's not expensive. I can't afford it.

After the traumatic experience, I just went straight home, put dinner in the oven and collapsed on the couch with a bit of chocolate waiting for BF to come home with a hug. Feel a bit calmer now, but still very worried about the guy and his bike. My first crash ever, bike or car, in all my years of being on wheels. I suppose it had to happen some time. I would just have preferred it to happen without involving other people. I am quite used to hurting myself from just plain clumsyness.

Oh dear! Glad to hear I raised you to be polite and responsible, even if I didn't raise you to drive on the left side of the road. Do remember to get a new helmet too. Also, get the bike checked out before your big ride ... is that this weekend? Tell bf to give you an extra hug from me, just being watchful of any bruises. And tell your mom if you need a bit of extra economic support in the accident aftermath. Maybe instead of those T-shirts I haven't bought yet. I noticed you have to spend quite a bit to redeam the $20 coupon, so if you need that for spokes and helmet and old man's wheels instead of T-shirts, that's fine with me.

[makbike]

No ride today for Mother Nature decided we needed some rain. I have full intentions of riding tomorrow and Friday. I'm going to take Saturday off to rest for my first century of this season - looks like great weekend for a long ride.

[betagirl]

20.2 mile commute. Tailwind home, so that was nice :D

[Lise]

(Isaac the cat is helping me eat my turkey/tomato/left over spinach & feta omlette sandwich. He's eating the turkey. What a pig! I'm letting him! What a wierd single woman in her 40s! :rolleyes: )

uk elephant--sorry to hear about your crash. Be really gentle for a few days. You'll be more sore tomorrow. Hope the old guy is OK.
............................................
Ran this morning...whoa, too soon after the puking weekend to do that. 2 miles of largely walking.

Rode to work anyways--riding is so much easier than running. 3+ miles to the clinic, then a few more miles north to an appt after work, then home, a winding route through a big park and various side streets. Even got to see a dachshund. I rode far around the pup and her owner, but doxies are so indignant! When she realized there was a bike in her vicinity, she jumped and woofed as if I had tried to grab her! Made me laugh. I had the same blessed tailwind as beta on the way home (I thought of you and hoped you were enjoying it, beta!)

I rode for about three blocks on a busy traffic-jammed street (Peterson). A verrrrry narrow strip of road between the cars and the curb. Some were closer to me than others. I made up a new magic protective song:


Todos se quedan a la izquierda hoy!
Todos se quedan a la izquierda hoy!
No salta nadie,
Nadie salte!
Todos se quedan a la izquierda hoy!

(Magic protective songs are more effective when sung in Spanish, for some reason) Tune? I made one up. It means:

Everybody stays left today! Everybody stays left! Nobody's jumping (right), nobody jump! Everybody stays to the left today!

This magically protects the space through which I'm riding, and keeps the drivers from twitching their wheels and lurching over at me. In England, it would be the opposite, I suppose.
Total mileage: 13.63

I'll be out of town (Akron, Ohio) Thurs to Sun, and most likely no internet access. Then I'll spend Sunday night getting caught up on the boards! :)

[limewave]

Today was such a horrible day at work! Thankfully, I knew I could ride tonight--that happy thought was what got me through the day.

Anyway, I rode 47 miles (yes, I was that stressed about work). I looped up and down Block House Hill twice (seriously, my day was THAT bad). By mile 30 I had hammered out most of the anger and was able to enjoy the rest of the ride. I averaged around 17.6 MPH. Top speed on the flats was 22 MPH. I got up to 38 MPH on the downhill (that was in the first 30 miles and I kind of had a death wish then).

All in all it was a good ride. I'd like to thank my wonderful mother-in-law for babysitting tonight. What would I do without you?!?!?!

[SandyGirl]

Pilates class and then an 8 mile ride. 1/2 in a horrid head wind. Thought I was going to die! BUT I pushed through it. Fortunately, I live in the rural world. My "route is two miles up, two miles back...twice! So..at least some relief when that head wind become my tail wind. Awesome evening to ride!! Tried out my $7.99 mirror from ****s Sports. It velcros to the handlebars and my hand is right on top of it..shifting it around the whole time as I shift, pedal, etc. Gave me a headache. Not sure the helmet/mirror will work..

After a week of rainy evenings, this was nice. Oh, I did the same ride Sunday evening too!

Sandy

[Duck on Wheels]

Ruby Slipperz is home in her new (for her) kitchen. :)
I rode Sedona the little work pony 4 miles to the lbs, then watched as they put the finishing touches on Ruby. I added a handlebar bag with map pocket, also bought a better lock than the cheapo one I got to tide me over til I get my good one back from Trek420 (it got left in her car). And I bought 10 packets of sport beans -- some for me, some for the renaming contest prize. Then I tootled around on the bike path near the lbs to check the brakes and shifters before taking off homewards. Took a roundabout route, including the uphill direction through the Arboretum -- 12 miles in all -- to get used to the shifters and get a feel for her. By 10 miles the space between my shoulder blades was telling me that this is not a "comfort bike", this is a bike where I need to use my core muscles and not just rest on my arms! So I put them to work and -- hey, I actually have some core muscles. :D Guess the PT work to build my core as part of the cure for the neck sprain is paying off double up.

Now to get some late supper (soup, raisin-walnut bread roll, and a cookie from the bakery across the street), then do the rest of today's PT exercizes. Won't want to skip those now that I have an extra reason for doing 'em.

[Barb]

The best sort of ride..straight to the ice cream shop!!! I had sorbet so it doesn't count right? no fat :)

The BF and son came along. That's the good part.

[Geonz]

Rode to work, then out to "show and go" and fortunately Richard was as promised on his ancient Schwinn COrvette (balloon tires, 3-speed, HEAVY)... but even he dropped me! Mike hung with me as the wind shifted on us (mostly a cross wind, but NOT with us except for the South part.)
44 miles on the day... on the Big Bike... and maybe even I do need to eat. Can't say taht I bonked, but I didn't feel like going any faster than 13 (which equals 16 or 17 on a regular bike, I think).
Trying for 1000 miles in June, with the help of GITAP...

UK El, take it ieasy! But get back on that bike... don't let it scare you. I spent most of today crafting a letter to our transportation planners trying to get the message across that "bike paths" are often more dangerous than riding on the road.

And I'm going to learn that song, it has a nice ring to it, even just chanting it! Spanish is the magic tongue :-) ..but remember, i before e, unless you're WEIRD :-) (or that thing about the weird sheik that has all the ei exceptions in it...)

[melissam]

UK Elephant, sorry to hear about your crash. Hope the guy and his bike are OK.

(Soon to be the forum participant formerly known as) Bikeless in WI, congrats on picking up the new steed!

My ride...Instead of braving the Baylands and its lovely headwinds, I decided to take the nice flat bike path away from the bay. Ummm, tailwinds are sure nice!! Unfortunately they turn into headwinds when you turn around.

It was a nice, easy spin, and my brain decided to take a nice vacation since it didn't need to participate in the ride. Here are some random things that come with a brain being on vacation:

Soundtrack: Looking East by Jackson Browne, as I was heading west looking into the setting sun.
Age of Aquarius -- I have NO idea why, and it was mostly the refrain that was stuck in my head.
Running on Empty by Jackson Browne -- the first side of the album.
I am Woman by Helen Reddy -- I liked the part where she says she's strong and invincible, and, everybody sing along -- I am WOMAN!!!

Thoughts: how come joggers always look like they're in tremendous pain as you pass them?

Why do people feel obligated to shatter their glass bottles into a gazillion pieces?

I sure wish people that used the path to walk their dogs would keep their dogs on leash, especially if the dog doesn't like bicycles. And by the way, how come the dog thinks this is his territory and needs to protect it -- it's a public path?

Pretty much the whole ride was taken up by random thoughts along this line.

Cool sights: two jack rabbits, sprinting along side by side. It looked like they were drag racing.

Anyway, tomorrow I take the day off. But since I feel pretty comfortable riding along for an hour, I'm thinking of joining a leisurely club ride on Saturday.

-- Melissa

[SalsaMTB]

I had great intentions for a fast training ride after work today. Unfortunately I didn't make it. Came up to a sharp corner on a narrow bike path on my way from office to station and an old guy came around the corner in the opposite direction. We both moved over to the same side, and needless to say that didn't work. Unfortunately, it was mostly my fault. This being England, I should have moved to the left as he did. But split second reflexes moved me to my right. I survived with just a few bruises, scrapes on my helmet and my bike seems ok. They old guy had a few scrapes too, but seemed ok other than that despite his bad hip and everything. His bike seemed to have taken the brunt of the blow. I wasn't with it enough to check over things myself, but he said his wheels were bent. I gave him my number and he'll give me a call when he's had his bike checked over. I just hope it's not expensive. I can't afford it.


Yikes! Glad you're OK! Make sure you replace your helmet!

Dh and I had a night ride planned on the 7th out of our shop. There were scattered thunderstorms so we thought about canceling. It was beautiful all day, only a slight drizzle but the trail is a few miles out so we were a little unsure. Since it was nice though, we decided to ride. We met up with a couple other guys and rode one loop of the trail, only 6.5 miles. Apparently, all the scattered showers were right on the trail because is was MUDDY!!! Due to the mud, we didn't do the other loops. I got dropped pretty quickly by the guys, figured I would. They waited at the halfway point, then we continued on where I got dropped on the first hill. Started to catch up, took a fall, and met up with them at the end. My motivation is to be able to hang with the guys :) I'm OK in the flats, but the second a hill comes, they're gone :(

Also, due to all the rain, the mosquitoes were out like mad last night. It was crazy, I have a ton of bites now

[caligurl]

20 miles after work.... warm but some clouds... so it didn't feel as hot without the sun beating down on me! windy (what else is new? it's the desert... it gets windy almost every afternoon!)

i got off work an hour early.... so i met up with hubby and rode the rest of the way back home with him (he commutes several days on his bike)! he doesn't like riding in the wind with me though... cuz it slows me down so much... and doesn't bother him as much... oh well! lol!

[SalsaMTB]

i got off work an hour early.... so i met up with hubby and rode the rest of the way back home with him (he commutes several days on his bike)! he doesn't like riding in the wind with me though... cuz it slows me down so much... and doesn't bother him as much... oh well! lol!

Many times I'll draft hubby on days like that. He is quite a bit stronger than me riding so with me drafting at his pace, it gives both of use a good workout. Put me in the wind and I can't even come close to hanging with him :o