August 17th rides

Yay...I get to start the thread today! :p


Did my commute (14 miles) in good time. I had a few simple carbs before I left and it made a huge difference in my energy/strength. Unfortunately, I don't know my avg speed because I forgot to hit 'stop' on my computer and it kept going...it thinks it took me an hour and 40 minutes! ;)

Saw something kind of odd on my ride. I saw a woman out for her morning fitness walk (I've seen her out before...usually with a girl friend). She was walking through a really nice neighborhood (lots of big old houses) and yet she was carrying a baseball bat. :eek: She certainly looked like she could defend herself (I'd guess she was taller than 5'10" and she wasn't tiny) and yet she felt the need to carry a bat. I really hope this wasn't because something happened to her or her friend recently! Poor thing!

It made me think of Jennifer Ewing...and that I didn't have my pepper spray on me this morning. :(

Interesting ride in today. For one thing, my legs were COLD! I didn't check the temperature before I went out in my usual attire of shorts, jersey and windbreaker. Well, at forty-six degrees, I could have used a set of knee warmers, I tell you!
Saw a racoon in someone's yard that I had mistaken for a really fat cat. The critter was running parallel to me, then stopped and looked at me. Oh, now I see the mask across your eyes! How cute!
Also got cut off by a minivan. This part of my ride is going in the 'Dear So and So' thread, as it is more fitting.

I was just starting my commute today and I heard a voice say, "Good Morning!" I turned and saw a lady on her porch, waved, and said good morning back.

Since I was going uphill (slowly), the lady kept talking. She said, "I see you riding your bike by here often and because of you, my husband and I went out and bought bikes."

Well, I had to stop and talk to the lady!

She and her husband bought bikes last week and already have taken two rides--one around the neighborhood, and one on the local trails. She said it was all because of me, and thanked me for being an inspiration!

All I was doing was going to work, but I'm glad that I inspired her to ride a bike. It's also nice to have people watching out for you. Three people on that block have commented on my bike riding. What a great neighborhood!

OH, I can't wait to feel better. I may have made my ride on Saturday even though I was getting a cold, but I haven't ridden my bike since. Sunday I was recovering and then as the day and or days went on my cold has gotten worse. I am finally feeling better today so hopefully by tomorrow I will feel like getting back out there again. :D

I'm still watching everyone elses rides and it just makes me want to get out and ride. I probably wouldn't make it around the block though. :eek:

I had a good ride this morning with my DH and our good friend. We rode about 25 miles, moderate pace, maybe about 17-18 average. We made one stop and got "attacked" by a bunch of mosquitoes. The humidity in Phoenix has been on the rise, and those were really hungry.

Then we saw a coyote. It is still so cool to see wild life within the city limits.

We were working on our off saddle position. It is not as easy as it seems especially if you are on the lower portion of the bars. But using less hips and more forward movement makes you faster. There is still a lot of learning to ahead.

People might scoff or be shocked to hear this from the high desert, but yes, seeing that big yellow ball out this morning in the blue sky was a very, very welcome sight. Geez Louise, we've been getting so much rain and cloudy skies here!!

Anyway, did my usual early morning route up to the foothills. I felt a bit slow for a good 20-30 minutes, probably because I had a decent breakfast prior to riding. It is a catch 22 - eat breakfast, then I feel slow for the first 1/2 hour - don't eat breakfast, then I bonk an hour into the ride. I opted for the former!

My first climb up the foothills was rather workmanlike. Concentrated on smooth pedal strokes and pacing myself. The second time, it was much easier, smoother, not to mention faster. FInally I finished with a couple of hard sprints up some short but very steep grades. Then an easy ride home, downhill

I rode my mountain bike today for the first time in a month. After I left my classroom, where it seems way too early to be getting ready for the start of school, I went to the town forest in a neighboring town. I didn't see one soul! I stuck to the main double track trails because it's a real maze in there and I was freaked out about getting lost. I also didn't want to do anything too technical, because I don't want to risk getting hurt when I am alone.
I found out that I don't mind rocks and mud, but sand is really hard for me, especially when it's on a steep uphill. But, it was fun and beautiful out; 78 and dry. I rode for about an hour and a half; no computer on my mtb, so it's like getting freedom from obsessing on my speed.