Aug 2nd rides

[DDH]

Okay, I didn't see a thread opened yet today so I am starting.
I got a later start this morning than normal, but as I walked out the door it did not seem quite as thick outside as it has been. At least I beat the wind anyway. Early morning is about the only decent time to ride here, because once the sun comes up the wind and heat start. It's like riding with someone holding a hot blow dryer on you.
Anyway, I rode 11.97 miles today, I should have gone down the rode just a little more to make it an even 12. My avg speed was up to 11.1 for a change. Seems I get a small increase on occasion to make me feel like I am progressing.
I am soaked with sweat and now headed for the shower and then breakfast. I have lots of running to do today so gotta get going.

Everyone have a great ride and day today!!

[tulip]

It's hot. My commute was good, however. 2 water bottles, and a good time even though I thought I was taking it easy.

We'll see about tonight. Code Red, 112 Heat Index...I'll definitely be taking it slow (it's uphillm ugh!)

[Crankin]

Same here... went out a little before 6 AM to do my short loop that I often do after/before work. It's supposed to be 101 here today, w/ heat index of 110. At 6 it was already 79 degrees and 84% humidity, very unusual for New England. Now, I can take 101 as a former Zonie, but combined with the humidity,it's just downright oppressive. And yesterday I saw people out riding at lunch time when I could hardly breathe!

15.3 miles, 58 minutes 20 sec. av. speed 15.7
The only wildlife I saw was the family of turkeys that live on my street and a very weird looking guy riding in black crew socks, a cotton t shirt, and running shorts. But, he had a nice bike.

[Tater]

Argh! Almost three miles into my commute, I realized I left my u-lock on the bench in the laundry room. Back I had to go. However, I did see five other bike commuters! I guess I just leave the house too early to see everyone typically. Nice morning, fifty-three degrees, shooting for ninety-three later this afternoon.

[Kano]

:) Way to go, DDH!:) A hair's breadth short of 12 miles is a GREAT way to start your day! MY bike computer doesn't do hundredths, so on my computer, you would have seen it say 12 -- no shoulda's about it! On the other hand, I admit, if I pull in the driveway and look at that trip odometer and see that I'm close to something I'll go 'round the block once just to make a number that makes me smile!

Sometimes it's hard, I know, DDH, to see people write here that they feel like they're slogging along at a "mere" 13 mph or that their rides were a short one when they're 15 miles or so, but remember, we're beginners, and we're going to have a HUGE celebration when we have a ride that averages 13mph -- for now, we deserve to celebrate any ride we do that is fast enough that we don't tip over and long enough that we broke a sweat! Progress IS happening every time we push ourselves out the door and up into the saddle!

Yup, nothing quite so nice as a quiet hour on the bike for us SAHMs!

(oh, wait, my kids are grown, and I don't stay home as much anymore!)

Karen in Boise

[DDH]

Karen, You are such a great cheerleader!! I just want to say thanks.

Did you ride today?

[Fredwina]

DDH,
I also only did 12 miles. and at 10.6 average! I did some hillclimbing. Basically I spent the first half hour ascending about 1000 feet to the National Forest boundary. Saw several rabbits, and some "Left Behind" Orange Groves. Rode breifyly thourgh the clouds(They were low today , at about 2200 feet) and then flew down the hill, and did some flats in a vain effort to up my average speed.

[makbike]

Since today is officially my last day of summer vacation (teachers report to work tomorrow) I decided to ride some of my favorite roads. It was a tad bit warm when I left the house around 11:30 (90 or so, heat index in the upper 90's). I road 27 miles and found myself heading back towards my house but decided I wasn't ready to bring my ride to a close. I stopped at a mini-mart purchased more fluids, refilled bottles, took a short break in the shade and headed off to ride some more. At about the 40 mile mark I began to feel the heat - up to this point I did not feel hot or uncomfortable and decided to wind my ride down so I pointed my bike home, fought a head wind and pulled into my driveway with a big smile on my face. I rode 48.79 miles today and averaged 15.1 mph - not terribly fast I know. My legs have felt very tired the past couple of weeks and today was not exception. However, my legs kept plugging along and worked hard today so I guess I'll keep them a little longer :p All in all it was a great way to end my summer vacation and it gives me something to look forward to next summer.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I rode around town for about 45 minutes this morning at 9 or so, felt ok for most of it, but the sun and heat were rising fast (hit 100 today) and by the end at 10am I was wiped out. I came home POURING sweat and my husband looked so alarmed when he saw me he rushed me into the cool shower. My face was brilliant red though no sunburn at all. :eek: After a long cool shower I felt a bit weak and had to lie down with the fan and drink ice water for about a half hour. Then I was ok.

I did enjoy my ride though! I just love my new bike to death. :D
Thank God tomorrow is supposed to be "only" 90 degrees. Guess I have to get out there way earlier.

[Pascale]

Just got back from a 35 mile ride in town. Used some bike paths when they were convenient, but also tried bike LANES for the first time. It was a beautiful day, but I'm still not comfortable with intersections - it was nearing rush hour - I'm totally clueless on how to make a left turn on a bike when the road is 4 lanes in one direction (2 turning lanes, two straight lanes) - so that was highly stressful - luckily I managed through without too much risk (I think!). The hills were killers - I'm starting not to notice the smaller hills anymore, like I first did, but those looooooong steeep grades SUCK! I basically have to put 'er in the lowest gear - lay forward on my handlebars and move along at about 3mph (I have one of those upright comfort bikes). The knees are still killing me, but dang, still having a blast!

[Kano]

Karen, You are such a great cheerleader!! I just want to say thanks.

Did you ride today?


You're welcome, DDH!

Unfortunately, no, I didn't and won't get in a ride today. I thought about riding to work this noon, but had too much stuff to carry with me. I have to go back for the evening soon, and again, will have too much stuff. Came home for supper in between!

Karen in Boise

[Kano]

DDH,
I also only did 12 miles. and at 10.6 average! I did some hillclimbing. Basically I spent the first half hour ascending about 1000 feet to the National Forest boundary. Saw several rabbits, and some "Left Behind" Orange Groves. Rode breifyly thourgh the clouds(They were low today , at about 2200 feet) and then flew down the hill, and did some flats in a vain effort to up my average speed.

HOLY MOLY! I wanna grow up to be you! a thousand vertical feet in only half an hour? Wow! All at once? On a really good day, I can do about 250 with a couple of rests. I've not checked to see how long it takes, but it sure feels like an eternity. Please tell: granny gear? breathing breaks? shaky legs breaks? I've done more climbing, but y'know, there are downs in between, does that count? How much practice does it take to be able to do that kind of an up?????

And I LOVE your "vain effort to up your average speed" -- I tell DH that those ups wreak havoc on my average all the time!

Karen in Boise

[salsabike]

I did 44 miles on a mostly flat trail but did a significant hill at mile 5---and then decided I could do it again at mile 40! Yeeha! The weather here is beautiful, low 70s, early morning clouds and afternoon sun. Bald eagles. Herons. Goldfinches all over the thistle that lines part of the trail. Did not eat any recognizable bugs today--hurray!

[Pascale]

Did not eat any recognizable bugs today--hurray!

So, is that to infer that you did, indeed, eat unrecognizable ones? :D

[Dr. Liz]

40.5 miles today, on a local 'circuit' that DH and I do pretty regularly. DH was all psyched after his bike re-fitting (which included him putting down the deposit on the new Seven), and I was outfitted with my new Camelbak (I'm having issues with water bottles at the moment), so we managed to crank out a 17.6 mph avg, including a total ascent of 1800 feet. The ascent is fairly normal, but the speed was my highest average speed ever.

It was a good way to go into my bike fitting (I'm getting DH's old bike, as the budget can only handle one custom bike at the moment). I felt like a 'real' rider, and so I wasn't so intimidated by the 'serious rider' bike shop.

Oh yeah. And the hit of the day? 3 red-tailed hawks riding the thermals and talking to each other. They sounded like they were 3 feet away, they were so distinct! So totally cool!

And for the record, most of the bugs I eat are unidentifiable....:D

[salsabike]

So, is that to infer that you did, indeed, eat unrecognizable ones? :D

Of course. Tiny ones, like gnats, get regularly ingested without clear ID. It's the bigger ones, whose wings I can feel in my throat, that get recognition from me.

[Geonz]

Glad the birds cooperated to make for good scenery!
I successfully got out to Office Depot in the nasty business-strip-mall part of town that I ahve to go over the interstate *with* interchanges... even at 6:55 i didn't *like* it. Successfully picked up bike club newsletters. Further happinesses:
1. I followed my "gut instinct" and a truck in strange territory and made a turn when I needed to... would have been 10 *more* minutes late, at least, had I not.
2. Successfully hopped onto the grass where the road into college was totally torn up (and major construction equipment was driving around), and DID NOT WALK THE BIKE. Didn't even get out of the toe clips and did not fall down!!
4. Got the final exam for that class done! (Still have to do some more on the final project, thoiugh).
5. Got stamps and labels and staples on said newsletters (much wrestling with mail merging, too), and saw my trail in the grass on the return trip to the post office past the construction, and WOW! There was the little package of socks that my friend had mailed to me, that bounced out during that off-road "adventure"! (it's neatly mowed grass and only slightly lumpy terrain.) Picked up socks and rejoiced that I had decided that grass was better than Mattis Avenue.
6. Bummed because they changed pickup time from 8 to 7. People will not get newsletter in time for tomorrow's "new member welcome" monthly ride.
7. Successfully got 'puter home on bicycle without hurting it.

Now, to go finish that final project...

[pyxichick]

I'm sorry for all you east-coasters, but I'm sooo glad the heat has moved on from the midwest!

I left work early for a dentist appointment. I had to get three fillings :eek: so the whole left side of my face was numb. I was debating whether to go for a bike ride or to a happy hour for some friends that I used to work with.

When my dentist told me that going for a bike ride would make the novocaine wear off sooner, that helped me make up my mind.

I got home from the dentist, and my brand new Velo Bella jersey was waiting for me on my front porch :D Thanks for the fast shipping, TE!

So off I went for a nice flat ride on the bike trail.

Today I had TWO guys do the "I can't be passed by a woman" maneuver, where they speed ahead and last for about a mile or two before I catch them again. What's with the male ego anyway?

It was a beautiful night, saw lots and lots of rabbits on the trail. Rode 25 miles and I'm officially at the 1000 mile mark.

Happy day. (despite the fillings)

[emily_in_nc]

Had to settle for 30 minutes on the exercise bike at the gym today in lieu of a ride in 110 degree heat index, high humidity, code orange ozone HEAT! :(

Oh well...at least I worked up a sweat and burned a few calories. Fall will get here eventually, I think!

Emily

[dachshund]

I did my usual week-day ride, but finally tackled a hill I've been wondering about. It's +10% grade on my map, so it was good to finally try it.

On the way back I hit a big tree-root bump, which I usually miss... came down hard on my back wheel and got a flat. :( I got lots of encouragement from walkers passing by, who took the opportunity to chat me up while I was doing my chore. No cyclists stopped or asked if I needed help, so I guess a flat is like the plague or something!

[eclectic]

did 2 separate rides today.

Decided to do leisurely this morn, rode the trail and on the way back decided to try a hill that I have never made it up in one shot. The doc gave me some new breathing meds on Monday so here was the test. Grannied down immediatly took it slow and MADE IT TO THE TOP ! ! :D :D :D

The hill isn't that long but the top is beyond steep (if you stop you can't start again).

Did my victory lap around the park, met up w/ an acquaintance and chatted for 7 laps :)

This evening was the club ride. My BF the leisurely, fair-weather rider unexpectedly showed up. The first 6 miles were great. 20 mph tail wind. However, we knew we had about 4 miles against it when we turned around.
Clouds started rolling in and my fairweather BF and I decided to skip the extra loop and head for home.

The rain hit with about 5 miles left to go. The wind gusts were so bad the rain hurt when it hit (when I got home and looked it up we had 41mph gusts) the wind was steady at 25-30mph) We took shelter on the leeward side of a building. Rain would let up a little so we would do another mile and take shelter again. Finally just waited it out. Then it was perfect, no wind, cool and beautiful. Had I not been soaking wet and freezing I would have finished out the ride.

My DBF has decided no more club rides, he has done 3 this season and on each one the wind picked up to 25 mph. (I think he brings it with him :p

All told today - about 44 miles

[Trek420]

No ride yesterday but I got myself to the dojo for a two hour class. Marinela had said "no black belts ever come to the Wednesday class :( " But there were four of us there including two visitors: Russ from Texas, Ewa from Poland, Kishna and me. Good class, I was exhausted.

[oxysback]

Did my 18 mile loop last night. The wind was not as bad as it has been. Dropped my chain at about the half mile mark :mad: At least it was on a downhill. Average speed - 12.9. Beautiful weather...mid 70's. I wouldn't complain if the rest of the days this summer were the same!

[tulip]

last night's commute home was slow and soggy (sweat), but I did the 14 miles without a problem, and with the help of two bottles of water.

However, when I got home I was toast--couldn't eat, could barely move once I sat down. Fell asleep at 9:30, and even forgot to practice my mandolin! I don't think I can do 112 heat index rides two days in a row, so I left the bike at home today.

Tomorrow will be a nice, crisp 87F! Time for the tights??

[Fredwina]

HOLY MOLY! I wanna grow up to be you! a thousand vertical feet in only half an hour? Wow! All at once?
Karen in Boise
The first 4-5 miles cover about 750-800 feet. I can do this without resorting to becoming a "granny." it's about 3-4%, according to Toporoute.com . The next half mile is pretty flat. Then you do some stairstepping up a 8% grade to get the other 200. BY stairstepping, you ride up the hill for block, jog over(It's what I call a tilted plain, east-west is pretty flat, north-south is defintely not!) a block and go agian.
I used to have break out the granny earlier. I think the only way to get good at 'em is to do 'em.
Breaks, Yes I do that if it gets too tough. I managed to do Ride around the Bear (104 miles, 8000+ feet) in 10 hours "real" time when My bike computer was showing 9 hours "bike" time.... I may be slow, but I get there
"Don't buy upgrades, Ride up grades" - E. Merckx

[Kano]

Some day, Fredwina, I'm gonna do it! Maybe not for fifty pounds or so, and maybe not on my comfort beast, but someday, I'm gonna go up hills as blazing fast as it sounds to me like you're doing it!

Karen in Boise
(I will not hate hills, I will not hate hills, I will not hate hills)