August 10 rides

Well I'm pretty psyched. Tonight's ride was a blast. I did another new personal best this evening; 34.2 miles at 18.1 mph and I feel great! :) I missed last week's ride because I was sick. I took 5 days off the bike and it did me a world of good. So I did my C+ Monday ride out of Lancaster which brought us through Shirley, Townsend, Ashby, Fitchburg. It was very warm this evening and the humidity was high, around 76% and I thought that and the heat would get to me but it didn't. The terrain on tonight's ride was fairly mild - on level areas we were cruisin' between 19 and 24 mph and that actually was pretty effective at cooling us off so it didn't seem hot at all. We did the Willard Brook State Forest area up into Ashby which has about a 3 mile climb with an average 9% grade, after isolating that segment on Sporttracks. That was the biggest climb of the evening. It's getting darker earlier so quickly now :(. I had my blinky light on near the end. The mileage on these rides are going to have to be cut shorter because there's just not enough daylight any more. Well, I seem to be improving but wouldn't ya figure - just as I'm feeling fitter, available time and daylight will cut down on my riding.

I hear you mudmucker! I can stand the heat cause I love the longer days!

I went to group ride and although I did not feel as good as last week I was still very happy with my climbing and my average for 28 miles. I have been trying to spin more (again people keep telling me too) for the last week and wouldnt you know it but at mile 5 I could feel my right knee starting to twinge which I have not felt in a looong time. Well, I decided I am just going to have to ride my bike my way because I dont have any knee problems when I do. I dont care if I am doing it wrong by mashing a big gear because it works... for me. The ride where someone told me this I averaged 22.4mph and was feeling fantastic. I thanked them for the advice but I am going to stick with what my body tells me! :)