July 27 rides

Today was a sad day even amongst all the joy I felt. Today, was my last chance to host a ride for the club for I return to my classroom next week. However, even though it was a sad day I was very touched by all the club ladies who came out to my little town to ride and enjoy a lunch together after the ride. This particular group of ladies has rallied around me and gone the extra mile to include me since my surgery and my exBF dumping me following my surgery.

The day started off wet - heavy storms had passed through my area about an hour before the ride was to start. Roads were wet and the humidity levels were very high. Skies were overcast but we decided to tackle the 49 mile route I had put together. It was a slow paced ride with people moving back and forth from one small group to the next to converse and share thoughts. The group did not appreciate the awful hill we had to climb out of the valley but there is no way around it. Everyone made it out a little winded but smiles quickly returned to everyone's face as we moved into some beautiful countryside. We saw several donkeys in the fields along with some beautiful horse (some ran with us as we passed), and lots of cows. The local crops were evaluated by our inexperienced farming eyes and the fields of sunflowers were breathtaking as we buzzed along. The skies did hint at rain but the rain gods decided to hold off and we had a dry ride.

Lunch was enjoyed at a local sandwich shop where the lively conversations continued and several of us finished our filling lunches with homemade chocolate milkshakes - I'm so full!

So though this was my last opportunity to host a ride for the club this season and I'm sad I also realized how blessed I am to have been made a part of this special group of ladies. I've made some great new friends and I look forward to riding with them on the weekends.

Today's ride was the kind of ride that I can be proud of. Not a record at 12.5 miles (couple miles short), but I didn't back-track so I am facing my fear of being far away, I only stopped once to rest and only for about 90 seconds, I managed to grab and put back my water bottle back dow about 5 times while riding and not falling, I got no numb fingers, my soft girly bits didn't hurt so I must finally have the right saddle, my bike path had nobody around, it was hot and humid, I sweated a lot and lastly - I felt great when it was over!

As the above post says, it was hot and humid today; 92 to be exact. We lead our club's weekly Friday morning series ride. Good thing I swept and there was one very slow person because because this weather does me in! The ride starts at the Weston Town Hall and today we rode to Carlisle Center, a round trip of 33.6 miles. The beginning of these rides always involves going over some very pot holed down hills in Lincoln, which I hate. Anyway, got a little frustrated w/my slow poke who I was sweeping because it's one thing to be slow on hills, but then he would just slow down on the flats for no apparent reason. I know he can ride faster, since I've ridden with him a lot. I thought maybe the heat was getting to him, but I repeatedly asked him if he was OK, and he kept saying fine. Anyway, we stopped at Fern's to get water and Gatorade refills, so I knew it was hot; usually this group doesn't stop. The heat got to me on the way back, though and I was happy to go slow!
All in all, a good ride, but it is nasty out there.

Miserable commute home. It started out hot and humid as the others have said, but despite that I decided that I'd take the long route home (18 miles instead of 7) on the network of bike trails. About halfway home the sky opened up and it started pouring. At one point lightning struck about 4 feet away from me; I thought it was someone on the side of the trail taking a picture with a very bright flash, and then a few seconds later I heard the thunder. Once you're soaked, the rain doesn't matter any more, so I made it home and had a delicious meal of baby bok choy and fake chicken. Mmmmm!

The afternoon thunderstorms finally held off so that we could get in a great ride. It rained all day, so it was nice and cool (ha- low 80s) but oddly not that humid. We rode 31.64 miles at a whopping 17.4 mph. It is a rolling ride, so this is a very admirable pace and a personal best for me! DH said "You rode like a woman possessed." I guess that is a compliment? :p

DS and I tried to ride together for the 2nd time this week. Earlier try resulted in a flat as he was airing it up. Yesterday we got a mile when his other tire went flat. He walked home and I continued my ride. Nice 40 miles ride that didn't get too warm until the end. I stopped for a drink and talked with a lady who told me about 2 cyclist that were killed on the road I ride, about 20 years ago. The drunk driver said he thought they were a deer--didn't stop--cyclists found the next day--driver was never prosecuted. Baaaaad too familiar story.:mad: I will definitely be watching my rear view mirror close as a hawk. Stay safe out there cyclist.