August 9-11 Weekend Rides

I finally got in a decent ride this morning AND I even rode in traffic/played in the street for much of the ride before cutting through the park to go home :) While it was a modest 13ish miles, it is the longest ride I've been able to tolerate for a long time! No neurological symptoms, though there was some neck/shoulder pain at the end. Still a vast improvement, and I managed to get that in 64 minutes - which isn't a bad average speed for me! I also noticed that I was no more tired at the end than I was the beginning of the ride, so my other activities are helping me maintain my endurance levels.

It was a beautiful ride, and afterwards I swung by my LBS to have them bolt my seat-post rack (my grip isn't strong enough to get the bolts tight enough). The temps were nice and cool, drivers were courteous, and while I focused on taking my time - I felt great and challenged myself. I DO want to lock THAT arm out for some reason, so tried to focus on keeping my neck/shoulder/arms loose. Easier said than done.

My first >40 minute ride in months, I will take it :)

Tomorrow I plan to take my bike downtown, they have the roads closed around my gym for a running race, so I will toodle around on my bike before/after my usual Funday workout. That is why I had my rack installed - NO MORE carrying stuff on my back on the bike...

Did 21 miles around through Great Brook Farm and back. Went a slightly different way to get there, on one of the main roads in town that has been torn up all summer, in the direction we went. They are still laying pipes and there are tons of vertical cracks and patches, but at least no construction on Saturday. We had torrential rain yesterday and there's some residual sand in the road and the humidity isn't quite as gone as I thought it would be.
Nice ride; I think I burned off the 2 glasses of sangria from last night :). Longer ride tomorrow.

40 miles this morning and thought I was going to be slower than usual (I felt slower) but when I downloaded my info I averaged 15.4 mph, so I was pretty happy with that. I managed to do the clipless fall thing. Just couldn't get out in time and I knew I wasn't going to be able to so I coasted into the grass for a softer landing :) Did have one scary moment on the ride. There was about 20 of us and we were riding single file on a relatively narrow shoulder where the traffic is fast 50-55 mph. Well, one of the lead riders decided to stop on the shoulder and not call out or say anything. This resulted in the rest of us making a last minute swerve into the lane and mass chaos. We were doing about 20 at the time. Thankfully there wasn't a car coming because I'm just about positive not a one of us had time to check the lane before we swerved into it.

Today is probably one of the most perfect days of the summer, but I had to ride in the AM, as we were seeing DS and DIL for the first time since Father's Day, at noon. I rode to west Acton and back a longer way. The little hills seemed hard, but as always, I don't warm up for at least 6-8 miles. Twice, I had guys drafting *me,* which is really a laugh. The second time, I was on a flat road before I turn onto the street that takes me into my neighborhood. Two guys said hi and turned, and few minutes later I "felt" something and 2 guys were behind me. Very close. Finally, when I turned, I motioned I was stopping and they asked me if I was OK. Uh, yes, I just wanted to get away from them before I cooled down by going very slowly up the climb to my house. So, 19.2 miles, not what I wanted, but we had a really good time with DS and DIL, who are coping with her crazy mom, after her dad's death. That's another story!

I just have to say that this weekend was the most excellent riding weather ever. No wind to speak of, great temps, and I managed a personal best on Saturday. Got in 96 miles this weekend over two excellent rides and enjoyed ever single minute of it. This is what it is all about!!

Catrin - that is wonderful that you are physically able to do more now. It's difficult when the mind is willing but the body is not.

Got in about 40 miles yesterday with two friends, but I was feeling old and slow in the wind. Today, I got together with a group of people I'd never met before through meetup, and had a great time. Got in 45 miles doing 18-21 mph, which is a pace I can handle. I've not been able to ride with groups down here as they all seem faster than I can do. I found out that these guys do longer rides (usually about 80 miles) on Saturdays, and I'll definitely be riding with them again. Really nice folks and a fun social breakfast at the end. They also do Tuesday and Thursday evening rides, and I'm already signed up for Tuesday. I'm really happy to have found them.

Hubs & I did 51 miles yesterday. It felt good to be out but it was really humid. The last several miles were a little rough due to rising temps. It was about 98 degrees as we wrapped it up. It felt good overall though!

(repost from mountain biking)

Long Canyon is one of our local "epics". There's great riding in the N Idaho Panhandle but it is not in any guidebooks. I have heard about this ride, but always the 40+ mile death march-all day-epic version. It turns out that if you shuttle vehicles between the two trailheads, it turns the ride into a doable-for-mere-mortals backcountry ride of 19 miles

You leave a vehicle at the bottom and then drive back up to the upper trailhead at 5700'. Then it's a two mile hike-a-bike to the pass, up to about 6700. After that, the trail descends via over 40 switchbacks down to the valley. Long Canyon is roadless, so it is a premier wilderness destination with filled with old growth cedars. Once you are off the ridege, the trail rolls through the old growth for miles and miles and miles, with many creek crossings. The day is spend eating and riding punctuated with creek crossings. I had the best day in a very long time. :-)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b...55746067_o.jpg

Hike a bike, for real
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0...0/P1020104.JPG

top of the pass
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I...2/P1020106.JPG

lots of rocks at the top of the descent
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-m...020111edit.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...020116edit.jpg

I wasn't kidding about switchbacks. Something "clicked" for me on this ride and I did better than ever on them
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-p...020123edit.jpg

Much of the trail looks like this
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-d...0/IMG_1165.JPG

Always bring your water filter
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...70186451_o.jpg

There were about 5 crossings like this
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--...87607125_n.jpg

The trail is well maintained. There were really nice boardwalks over the boggy areas.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z...20136-edit.jpg

DH took lots of photos of me. :-)
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R...20134-edit.jpg

and more creek crossings ( note to self, bring sandals next time)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R...2/P1020141.JPG

Almost done - view of the Kootenay River
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L...20144-edit.jpg

Dh and I got 32 miles in yesterday. We got rained on for the last 8 of it - as in, the cycling clothes were less wet coming OUT of the washer than they were going in. But considering the highs this week were hitting the high 90's, the rain didn't bother me one bit.

Just beautiful Irulan! Thanks for all of the pics!

Beautiful, Irulan. Almost enough to make me want to take up mountain biking.

Me: I did 75km on Sunday with a couple of friends who ride quite a bit faster than I do, which meant I rode a notch or two faster too. And there was a city ride on Saturday, and a shorter city ride on Friday after work. Perfect weather.

50 miles on local trail on Saturday (got started way too late and ended way too hot), but after recovering we get to record 50 miles. Then another 21 miles with the LBS on Sunday, much earlier. Still new to group riding and not really comfortable with it yet. Mostly because I still don't trust that the bike isn't going to fall out from under me. Having people close kind of scares me still. But, since I can't quite keep up with the group all the way yet I'm learning to get over the fear of being close for the benefit of drafting. :D

Beautiful pics Irulan! Yesterday was spent taking care of many neglected things around the house and yard, including time to just sit and drink coffee outside on the patio while reading the newspaper and enjoying the perfect weather day. :) Saturday was also a perfect weather day: temp in the mid-70's, low dew point, brilliant blue sky filled with puffy white clouds - and I got in a really nice 34 mile ride. More weekends like this please!

Irulan, gorgeous pics! Looks like a really fun ride.