8/16 Ride report

I haven't done a ride report lately, so I'm starting us off today!

I did the "Bicycle Ride Across Wilson County" this morning, the 30 mile option. I've been riding by myself mostly this summer, so it was nice to have folks to chat with. It was the same general area that Andrea won her state championship, but a different course. But she can tell you how hilly that area is.

But I had a good time. Except at one point too early on when my heart rate got up into zone 5. I stopped to let it get back down. It was after a climb that hits pretty quick and I probably wasn't warmed up well enough.

But my average speed was pretty darn good for me, even with the hills.

I also had a pretty good average speed today, although I don't know what the number is, I just used my watch. I stopped for ten minutes while a train passed, but I ended up having to take a detour because the train stopped. Even with the detour I was faster than I was last week. I was still dropped by the group, though. I faltered for about a minute or two in the high rpm's I was having to maintain and they kept pulling away; a hill came up and I never caught them. Then I decided to wait on the train instead of immediately taking the detour, so I was alone for the back half of the ride. One day! One day....

Very nice 32 mile ride, rolling hills. I got caught in tremendous downpour, but a very fat short maple tree really was my friend and kept me half dry. Almost home when a stupid dog came barking and chasing me pretty aggressively. I had to stop since he was determined to come after me (Australian shepherd), and all traffic halted in both directions while I had to yell at him and make him go home. He then became sheepish and ashamed of himself. Other drivers were concerned for me. I heard his owner start calling him, so I hope they got the message since the whole neighborhood could hear me bellow about what a BAD DOG he was. :cool: If this happens again I will have to speak to the owners.
Despite the dog and the sopping rain, I had a great time and my legs got a real workout. :D

22 miles, rolling hills, a few looooong uphills with my husband. Avg speed 14mph (some of the ride was in town/traffic) which is a pretty good clip for me. Threw in some sign sprints and worked on standing on the uphills and increasing my speed on the downhills. It was a good ride for me!

Ah, I'm jealous of your nice rides today... all I got this morning was a quick 25m on the rollers - it's POURING outside!!!
:mad: can't stand the rain! :mad:

My husband and I did our first 50 miler this morning. It's our 4th wedding anniversary too, what better way to celebrate? :p

It was a lot of rolling hills, and one long (~7 mile) climb around mile 30. Took us about 4 hours at ~13 MPH.

The stops are all local churches, and bake all kind of goodies for the riders. Cookies, granola bars, etc. I had this awesome homemade peanut butter oatmeal "energy" bar at one stop. YUM!

Happy anniversary berkeley!

I rode 26 miles on my scenic horsefarm route and really should have gone farther considering that it wasnt raining! Didnt check my avg speed til I got back and was pleased to see it was 19.3. It feels like I am getting faster and stronger all the time. :)

45 kms. with a stop near end to do grocery shopping. Went nuts buying local fruit: raspberries, blueberries, etc. plus local tomatoes, snow peas, etc. Temp was hot but with a slight breeze..Bright beautiful day.

He left while I hung out at bookstore and bought a book about a guy cycle-travelling and Dr. Seuss child's bk. for a niece.

Then biked a bit more homeward to do more grocery shopping...got a huge hunkin' fresh Dungeness crab for supper tonight..on our balcony.

Lovely day! :)

I started the morning off with a fast 17 mile club ride. My legs felt great and the route was nice and flat (I love flat!). Loaded the bike back in my car and headed across the river to Jeffersonville, IN for the next club ride. A 50 mile route which would take us to Corydon, IN for the Underground Railroad Dedication Ceremony. It was a beautiful, rural route (not sure if it followed the Underground RR) to Corydon. We had lunch at a family owned/operated deli very yummy and headed over for the dedication ceremony. Seems we took too long eating and we missed it. Back on bikes for the return trip. It was a beautiful day to ride.

Beautiful 37 mile ride this morning through rolling hills and some flats with my riding buddies in cool weather with low humidty - not normal for NC in Aug! Took a break at a fenced in field with donkeys and cute baby donkeys who came up to the fence to see us. Ate brunch at a bagel shop. Only bad part was one of our riders took a turn too fast and hit a median and went down. Got some bad road rash. First time I had to use my handy dandy baggie of first aid supplies. It sure came in handy. She rode the rest of the way in. Averaged 15 mph, which is a high for me :)

Did a 35-mile ride early, before I had dinner guests. I have some pictures here, of a ride that I did 2 days ago that was 44 miles. I didn't have the camera today but I figure, heck, I rode on most of the same roads today so it's sorta like the same thing. I like when people show pictures of where they ride. Besides, I've just learned how to put text between the photos.

Most of my area is heavily wooded but there are a couple of farms with open fields near me.
http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/40...425x425Q85.jpg

"My" classic view into southern NH. This view is early in the ride, about 2 miles from the house. Mt. Monadnock is about 17 miles to the north as the crow flies.
http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/43...425x425Q85.jpg

One of my many 1.5 country lanes. These roads I ride on have very little to no traffic.
http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/39...425x425Q85.jpg

Sigh. Some days I pine for good pavement. This stuff just does a number if you're in a groove.
http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/42...425x425Q85.jpg

The road to Royalston is up, and up. It has max grades of 22% or so, most are between 11-15% interspersed with 8-10%. It's 6.5 miles, and I'll use this particular road to help improve climbing. But at the top, finally, Royalston. Your quintessential New England white town common and Main Street. Complete with desolation. There wasn't a soul around.

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/22...425x425Q85.jpg

I love this barn. It's on Main Street. Hmm. The trees are turning color up here. Albeit the weaker ones. But it's only August!

http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/20...425x425Q85.jpg

I follow a river for a little bit near the end of the ride. Short
lived as it is a narrow valley. 5 minutes, then I cross the river and it is up a hill to home for 2 miles.
http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/12...425x425Q85.jpg

Here's a link to pictures of the rest of the ride.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo...ost=good-times

Just a little easy cruise with the club this morning - nearly half of it on a couple of the MUPs. Hardly any traffic on the trails, but lots of glass on the outbound path, and lots of bumpy tree roots, frost heaves and sinkholes on the inbound side. I was amazed I didn't get a flat in all that glass, I'm overdue for new tires :p For the last ten miles or so I picked up the pace a little bit and came on in by myself. I'm starting to feel up to some more exertion, thank goodness - hardly any pain, just some discomfort, although I'm still wearing my HRM really low.

Another amazingly beautiful day. Arm warmers starting out, completely perfect by late morning, and I just had all the levels adjusted in my allergy shot so even the peak of ragweed season isn't bothering me that much.

Which reminds me to turn off the water to my garden, as we've had a serious lack of rain lately. Great for outdoor sports, not so great for life :(

40.38 miles, 14.7 mph avg., very very flat.

Great pictures, mudmucker!

I rode 32 miles. 7 of those miles I averaged 15 mph while pulling a trailer that weighed about 65 lbs or so. It was a good work out.

Zen, 7rider, and I had a fun multi-sport day--kayaking on the Monocacy and Potomac rivers, and biking on the C&O canal.

We saw lots of birds--bald eagles, great blue herons, green herons, a kestrel, there were more but I'm not a bird person so I don't remember.

After kayaking, we were so hungry we rode 0.4 miles--that's right--and stopped at a picnic table for lunch. Then we rode another 13.5 miles. The excitement of the ride was that Zen's saddle decided to spontaneously fall off. oops.

Here are some pictures:

7rider and Zen having fun paddling
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...yakbike009.jpg

Zen paddling
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...yakbike003.jpg

bald eagle
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...glecropped.jpg

I just like this picture with the bow of my boat in it
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...yakbike024.jpg

Zen and 7rider on the C&O
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...yakbike026.jpg

Wonderful pictures mudmucker!
Thanks - you just made my day much better after all the rain :)