Holiday weekend rides

I'll start this thread, because I had a "rude cyclist" experience this morning on my ride.
I went out about 7:45 AM, just to do my usual loop and maybe add on a little more. I decided to do the loop in the direction so I would not be in the morning traffic. As soon as I got on one of the main roads (Lowell Rd), someone came up behind me and said "on your left." I think I had slowed a bit, and was going maybe 14-15. I was hot, had my vest and arm warmers on, but I didn't want to stop after like 3 miles. So, the person passed me, but she really wasn't going any faster than I go on a good day. She was young, was clipped in, had cycling clothes on, but had a sweatshirt tied around her waist, which to me is a sign someone doesn't know about things like arms warmers or vests that can be stuck in a jersey pocket. She didn't have gloves on, either. I didn't want to pass her, as I knew I couldn't maintain a speed faster than she was going for more than a few minutes. So I asked her, "Do you mind if I stay behind you?" I was not on her wheel, just behind her. She didn't answer me... after a few minutes I realized why. She had earbuds in. I saw the little white I Pod wire sticking out of a pocket. Now I decided to play with her a little... bad. This road is flat, but has some slight rollers that require nothing more than shifting down one gear and spinning. Every time she got to one of these (there are 3-4) she stood and pushed a big gear and was rocking back and forth the way I might do on a very hard climb. Because of this, I ended up on her wheel every time there was even the slightest rise in the road. So, at one point she looks back and gives me the nastiest look I've seen in awhile, after she realized I was behind her still. Yeah, she was messing with this old lady! I knew I would be turning off on a cut through street, so I could stop and take my stuff off, so I think I was behind her for like 5 miles.
When I stopped, my average was pretty high for me, for the beginning of a ride. So, while it helped the speed, I was really annoyed. She could not hear a thing.

Yeah, it's stories like these that make me wonder how often rudeness is a consequence of ignorance of the relevant social cues and norms. This doesn't excuse her in my book! I've been quite insecure myself about when it's ok to follow, what is expected from me etc. (And I admit I occasionally like riding with the iPod in, but make sure to use only one earbud so that I can still be hearing what's going on around me.)

My partner and I both have both Monday and Tuesday off, which is great, but it's going to be quiet -- there'll be many chores around the house and garden, and she's working on a deadline for a personal project. We also want to go hiking. But I'm sure there'll at least be one longer ride (longer for me!).

Yesterday, after 24h of torrential rain, the weather turned nice just in time for our club ride (women, "slow to moderate pace"). We ended up doing just over 20 miles up a ridge that runs west of town - quite a suburban residential area (for Alaska!). It was wonderful climbing and climbing (for me!). Runkeeper overestimates the climb, but here's the map nonetheless: http://runkeeper.com/user/chryss/activity/41491565 .

Went to my first club ride this year and had an awesome 33 mile ride this morning! None of the loops were right for me, they were either too short or too long and I am trying to build mileage without awakening old overuse injuries. I would have preferred 40 miles rather than 33, but I think that was a good stopping point. 105 miles for the week :)

Something surprising happened during the SAG stop. First of all, I must point out that LAST year I was truly the last rider to ever come into the stops. Indeed, in the ride that IndySteel helped organize/run about this time last year, I was 45 minutes behind everyone else :eek: I did have fun though, and that is what counts.

Today was my first club ride since September when I was taken off the bike. I wasn't last. Not even close, I was in the middle of the pack :D Yes, this was a little bit of a surprise given my very upright riding position and 1.5 inch tires... but the real surprise was when TWO young women told me they hoped they could keep up with me on Monday because they couldn't today - and they were on road bikes and aren't new...

I actually couldn't believe my ears and had them repeat themselves. They were likely just having off days, but it was still kind of neat - that is the first time anyone has said that to me :)

Oh yeah, I finished my ride with legs, and quads, feeling fine. I think I can start pushing harder now to build my mileage. I had a PB in average speed, this was the first time it was over 14 mph - though that was only due to it not being very windy. I've also discovered the big ring, that is probably part of it...

That's great, Catrin. Sounds like a nice group.
We did a 25 mile ride, about half of it with our friends. They rode to our house and then we rode about 11 miles together and we split off, so they could get ready for the bbq they are having in about a half hour. DH was using his GPS to guide him (he can't remember routes for crap) and even though we have done this ride probably twice since the first time this season, it was the first ride of this loop for the year in the GPS. At the time, we were trying to get our first 25 mile ride of the year (it was March), so we did some funky circles around town at the end. I just wanted to go home today when we came to the turn off, but we did the 25.
Even though I am exhausted from insomnia and we were going slowly for the first half, we pushed it for the second half. It was a good ride and there's a zillion cyclists out.
Now I am ready for lamb burgers and rum swizzles...

Catrin, that is just stupendous! I'm glad you had such a good time!

We are striking out so far this weekend as far as rides go. I met Brian after work in Columbus to drive to BCSP for a MTB ride. We were on our way to the park when he realized that he had left the key to the bike lock (the bikes were locked to the rack) at home. So, we turned around and went home. Frankly, I was feeling a little distracted by the labwork I got back yesterday so perhaps it's just as well.

We were planning on riding our roadbikes this morning, but DH felt sick to his stomach, and eventually threw up. Poor dear. Granted, I could ride on my own, but I just haven't. Maybe tomorrow. Ugh!

I'd planned on getting out this am before the heat set in, but I just couldn't get myself out of bed at 6:30 when I'd planned on getting up. By 10am the dew point was already over 70 and very thick air, argggg, so planning on tomorrow barring rain. Parents coming for the fourth, but may do a light ride with them at the local trail, we have to see.

Shannon

24 miles today, most of the second half in rain. I got out about half an hour earlier than I usually do (despite waking up 45 minutes earlier than normal:confused: ). Not too many people out on the trail, probably because of the heat and humidity and/or the rain. Of course, I was wearing my blue and white jersey from my alma mater's cycling club. The rain wasn't kind to it.
Because of this jersey, I ended up chatting with two older men who were just heading out from one of the access points south of me when I stopped to adjust my saddle. One's son went to my alma mater for engineering management and is now working for Dow Corning (he said "My son graduated last year and managed to find a job somewhere with worse winters than Cleveland!"). The other one's son went to the university where I'll be starting my master's in the fall--I got the impression he went to med school there.

Last ride for about a week, and 50 even miles for the week.

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

Congrats Catrin! All that commuting has made you a lot more powerful, I think:)

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I am not commuting - urban traffic just makes me too nervous. I would like to try it at some point though, which is probably what you remember :)

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

I could say she was just having a bad day last time, but that's not the impression I got. Doesn't really matter, but I wonder what will happen next time I see them on my road bike? Could be interesting. And I'm sure I'll see them again:)

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Hopefully they will learn how to hydrate before it gives them a problem :eek: I do remember getting VERY nervous around others when I was new, I was so terrified that I might run into someone...

Rented a Trek Madone today and rode 23 hilly miles with my hubby for my bday :D It's supposed to be in 90's today, and was already 85% humidity by 7:30 am when we departed. Fell in love and then discovered you can't buy one this time of year. Great morning, followed by fruitless bike shopping all over time :(

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Originally Posted by Catrin

. I would have preferred 40 miles rather than 33, but I think that was a good stopping point.

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Is there a reason that after hitting 33 miles you could not ride 3-4 more miles, then turn around and ride back? Then you get your 40 miles in.

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Originally Posted by withm

Is there a reason that after hitting 33 miles you could not ride 3-4 more miles, then turn around and ride back? Then you get your 40 miles in.

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I wimped out. This morning was nice and cool, but then the broiler turned on in the sky, apparently. I had also just taken my life in my hands by riding down SR 267 for about 5 miles and noon-time Sat traffic was picking up - I wasn't about to head back into that again, though was pretty proud of myself for doing it the first time :D

They are having the same ride Monday, and while I probably won't be at the official start since I've a party tomorrow night, I am going to ride from home and do the same ride after I get up and have breakfast. They will have the SAG open until 2 and porta-potty there all day Monday so I am going to make that my official 40 miler :)

Tomorrow I've mountain bike drills planned!

Think I will ride Glenwood to Aspen tomorrow on the Rio Grande bike trail, stay on a friend's floor, and ride Aspen to Glenwood on Monday. But I'll bring bus money just in case :)

I did the 7 am shop ride. I haven't really ridden with anyone since my old riding buddy injured her knee. She's been off the bike for 2 years now, :eek: so it's been that long. There were 6 of us today, 3 men, 3 women. Great group including 2 of my favorite people in the world (my wrenches), an easy 16 mph pace, 30 miles exactly, on mostly flat country roads. It was a nice social ride. We talked while we rode, and no one got dropped, flatted, or fell. It was nice to not be concerned with going fast. It was nice to have company. I liked it a lot.

The only problem was the 7 am start. That meant I had to get up at 5. Well, I did it, and survived :rolleyes:, so we'll see if I can keep it up.

That's what post-ride naps are for :D

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Originally Posted by Owlie

(he said "My son graduated last year and managed to find a job somewhere with worse winters than Cleveland!").

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Made me lol here! Oh, that's great!

After spending most of yesterday inside catching up on some work, I stuffed my backpack in a pannier (a feat in itself, believe me), threw a pair of old baggy shorts and a high-vis vest into the other pannier, put the bike on the rack, and drove to my usual trail. Rode it to a bakery/cafe place (similar to Panera), pulled on the baggy shorts, got dinner, and sat there doing some work. Chatted some, too, with a very outgoing, interesting guy who was also doing work. (He was obviously bored with what he was doing!)

After sunset, I loaded back up and headed home, but went around the lake three times (small lake) just to get in a few more miles. Got back to my car at 9:50 PM, which is a little later than I usually like to be out riding, but okay.

Just 15 miles, 5.5 there, 9.5 back, but it was good to fit it in, and I may do the same today.

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So I parted with mentioning that they needed to hydrate more, and pulled off. They each had small, capped, Gatorade bottles in one cage, and nothing in the other; only about an inch of liquid was missing, and they had ridden at least 11 miles by that point, and neither had taken even a sip in that entire time. Temperature was in the 90's.

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Hmmm... I regularly go 11-15 miles without drinking. My maintenance rides are in the 14-16 mile range (okay, sometimes 8-14 mile range <g>), and I usually don't drink anything until the end of them. (And I drink just water; Gatorade is completely unappealing to me.) I do often drink before I get on the bike, though.

What affects me more than just plain heat/humidity is whether the sun is actually beating down on me. Riding in the 90s in shade is okay; in the sun... not so much!