July 26 Ride

Clean air, pleasant temperature, sunshine, and did I mention Clean Air?

So, off I went, soon as the stage was over today, for a 16 mile ride through the various subdivisions around me. I played -- I played at "hammering" up the little rises, pretending they were hors category climbs, and I played with hand positions I've seen "the boys" using. I played with that knee out thing they do on the turns, and I played with my gears. I also talked to cows where people could hear me! They listen, you know, and sometimes they'll follow me along their fence line, and they look SO disappointed when they can't keep coming along cuz they run out of pasture.

AND, I ran over what turned out to be dead skunk. Didn't look like much of anything anymore, but ooooo, it sure did let fly with stink, even though it was flatter than a pancake and drier than the blacktop...

I have these STI shifters, according to bike guy, and I'm struggling with the front one. Seems that I have two positions for the derailleur when in the middle ring, and I have one HECKUVA time with getting to the one that's closer to the small ring. I hate the sound of the chain rubbing. So, in a pretty neighborhood, I just shifted and shifted and shifted. One time, I kinda got stuck, and had to stop and get off the bike and put things back before I fell off, but I figure even that is good, eh?

I also played with my drops -- and gave thought to that downhill position Linus used that day he won the stage. Yes, I actually thought about trying it. And then I thought better: HOW IN THE HECK does he fit in there? Oh, yeah, it's probably his little bony butt and his agile young body.... I'm pretty sure if I'd managed to get there, I would have been stuck, and still wondering how to get out -- and laying on my side somewhere, cuz you noticed, didn't you, that he couldn't possibly have pedaled in that position, and I was on a pretty tiny downhill and would have slowed to not enough speed to keep going soon, so I would have been laying on my side, in this crazy position, and eventually, someone would have found me, and probably have had to cut me out of the bike...

So I didn't do that one, and decided that's not something I'm likely to try!

I sure did have fun!

Karen in Boise

I went out at around 9:30 as it is supposed to be 90 and humid today. My legs are still not feeling that great since my climbing adventure to the berkshires. I rode Tuesday and felt dead and my speeds were way off. Yesterday I did landscaping, moving and lifting about 10 50 lb. concrete squares and spreading mulch. So today i decided on a very short and slow ride. I rode up Strawberry Hill, which isn't really that hard for me anymore and into Carlisle, back up the hill on 225, and then back down Cross St. to Lowell Rd. and home. I knew I was dragging; my average was just under 15 for 13.4 miles. It was a ride with a lot of climbing, but the heat just got to me. And, tomorrow we have to lead a 32 mile ride at 10 AM... I am not looking forward to it.
About an hour ago my doorbell rang. I thought it was the Fed Ex guy, but it kept ringing, so I ran downstairs and lo and behold, there was my son, on leave from the Marines! He had taken off from San Diego to camp in Colorado and then hopped the red eye to Boston last night. He called my older son at 5 AM to pick him up at the airport, but he couldn't get a ride to Concord, so he took the train from my other son's office. He wanted to surprise me, so he walked the 4 miles from the train station. I was really in a state of shock!

I hosted a 25 mile club ride this morning. Sadly, only one club member drove out to participate (and he is exBF's best friend). It was a tad bit awkward to say the least but we managed to converse for about half of the ride. It was a cloudy day here in Kentucky but temps were awesome (low 70's), humidity levels not to bad and a gentle breeze was blowing. I enjoyed the ride for it covers some of my favorite roads in my neck of the woods.

I'm heading into Louisville to ride the club's fruit ride this evening. I've decided to take my recumbent so it will be a slow, leisurely pace I know. I need to go easy for I'm hosting a 50 mile ride tomorrow morning.

Scheduled time for departure was 730am my house for my weekly ride with Kathy. Today was Kathy's voyage on her new bike, a Specialized Roubaix. My Bike got a new back tire last night, which DH didn't want to do but did it anyways, besides he thinks I'm not smart enough to change one so I let him believe that and my hands don't get dirty( at home anyways;) ). I woke at 721am, YIKES...rush to the BR, put contacts in, do necessities, dress, throw bread in the toaster, take morning pills, and chug it all down with water...god..no coffee for me..it really will be a long ride. Walk out the door in time. We went for a 50 mile ride, all new territory. Had route all mapped out, measured and was 2 miles short of what I anticapted. Saw fat little ponies, some beautiful homes and landscapes, and some homes and landscapes just the opposite. Home by noon to shower and enjoy the afternoon.

Makbike -- I wound up married to an ex's best friend, so it can be an okay thing to hang with those! Relax and enjoy those rides!

And Shelly -- good for you and friend Kathy! Does she love her new Roubaix as much as I love mine??? mine has a little over 500 miles on it now)

Karen in Boise