November 12 rides

Sheesh. So...it's breezy and showery here. We are actually in between fronts, though, with another coming through tonight. So Mr. Salsa and I did a 30-mile tandem ride on the trail---headwind 15-20 knots on the way out, tailwind on the way back. It was pretty fun, actually, because the showers were sporadic and not serious rain. Tested the new Shebeest WindPro tights, and the new SIDI Dominators (on Susan Otcenas' advice, I got the guy version because they're wider, so I can wear my really warm Smartwool mountaineering socks in winter. My feet get cold! Thanks, Susan--the width is definitely better for me). Liked the WindPros too, although they didn't get the full rain test. Stopped at Blazin' Bagels in Redmond and got bagels, bialys, and a brownie. Added in a fairly challenging albeit short hill. Got eggnog lattes on the way home. Nice to be home with the front moving in and the showers and wind picking up! Glad we rode.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by salsabike

...Stopped at Blazin' Bagels in Redmond and got bagels, bialys, and a brownie. Added in a fairly challenging albeit short hill. Got eggnog lattes on the way home....

---

Weren't you too full to ride after the bagels, bialys, and brownie?? :eek: ;)
Those eggnog lattes though- that's sounds like something I'd go for bigtime!!

So, the weather was nice all weekend but...we had to spend the weekend at a friend's overnight party/ no bikes.
I get home this eveing, eagerly checking the weather report for tomorrow, can't wait to get a ride in after two days off, and...
RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN forecast for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday !!! :mad: :( :mad: :( SHEESH! And temps to be in the 50's too, perfect temp for riding. :(
Unbelievable. Too frustrating.
Well, maybe there will be some sunny intervals somewhere in there when I can dart out quickly between the showers.....

You know, only once did I actually EAT a bagel in the middle of that ride. Then I wanted to take a nap all the way back home, on the bike. Ugh. So now they ALLLLL come home in the pannier, to be eaten later. The eggnog latte was YUMMY---bought after the tandem was in the back of the truck and driving home. I'm not a big mid-ride eater, I guess.

By the way, where do you live in upstate? I grew up in Albany. (if we had this talk already, please pardon my sorry short-term memory...)

I grew up outside of Albany, in East Greenbush, my brother still lives there.

Ruth

I'm about 45 minute drive southeast of Albany. In Columbia County, at the top of the Taconic State Parkway. Near Hudson NY.

It was another sunny day day in LA today
After church I decided to do to Glendora Mountain Road t as prep for the Tour De Tuscon on Saturday, Things were going well, but It was late enough when I got to the junction of Glendora Ridge. I decided to head back down instead of heading to baldy village, which was my plan (same mileage, just 1500 feet more climbing) My max speed read 85mph:eek: I think it was interference. I may try and do the whole nelson on Thanksgiving.

Did 50 miles on a club ride today. It was hillier and a faster pace than I usually do. Beautiful day for a ride. Even though it's so hard to get out in the mornings, it was really cool to be out in the quiet Sunday morning. Streets are quiet. I got to smell woodsmoke and bacon as I passed peoples houses. It's weird to literally get a passing glimpse of people's lives.

I'm tired but satisfied.

12 November, I participated in the CIBA Chilly Hilly ride. It lived up to it's name as the temps never climbed higher than the mid 40'sF and wind chills stayed in the 30'sF even once the sun came out. The Chilly Hilly takes in several of the biggest "hills" northwest of Indianapolis. This was the first time that I'd ridden a couple of the hills and I'm pleased to say I rode them ALL! Fishback has been known to be the bear of the lot!
Ok, so it's not a mountain and it's not really a hill by a lot of standards, but it IS very STEEP and short and one of the very few formidable hills in Indianapolis for us flatlanders. It has been the bane of many a cyclist and in the 3 times I've encountered it, yesterday was the FIRST I made it all the way up. Yes, I had to stop. Yes, I had to traverse back and forth across the road in a serpentine fashion, but I didn't WALK!!!
I don't have the entire route entered yet at routeslip for the full elevation, but here is a bit of the major hills on the route.
I ended up having a 51 mile ride for the day even though I didn't do the 47 mile route since I rode my bike to and from the ride. I am very proud to have finally conquered Fishback!!
Grade estimates are from another CIBA member that figured them from his estimates at routeslip. The mileage and elevation climbs and graphs, I got when I entered the route information at routeslip.com

Fishback (between Wilson Rd & Eagle Creek Pk)- 6.6% ave., 15% max --- .3 mile 81.1' climb
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...vationprof.jpg

82nd St (between Fishback & Lafayette- under I-65)- 6% ave, 19% max --- .22 mile 66.2' climb
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ionprofile.jpg

Kissel (between Lafayette & 96th)- 5.3% ave, 7.3% max. --- .22 mile 60.1' climbhttp://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...sselRdHill.jpg

Noel (between 79th & Lafayette)- 8% ave, 13% max --- .21 mile 70.6' climb
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...NoelRdHill.jpg

Fishback (between Wilson Rd and Raceway Rd) don't have the grades but .26 mile 70.8' climb
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...atWilsonRd.jpg

This is the elevation profile for the 30 mile ride I did which was the medium route. I haven't routed out my ride to and from the ride, but I had some moderate climbs (for flatlander that is) on the way to and from as well.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...routeeleva.jpg

Go Mary! :D