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I went out on the cyclofemme ride here this weekend. I figured it'd be a good chance to get out, see some new scenery, meet some people, etc.
There were 10 and 35 mile loops so I figured the 35 would be a nice ride and I wouldn't be a total slow-poke on my commuter (cross bike, rack, fenders) since it was a bit more social, no drop, etc and my road bike is out of commission at the moment. Long story short, my ride sounds a lot like GLC's above... we left late and I realized that I don't like riding in that big (20-30) of a group, especially on busy trail and with mixed etiquette from the group. It was also really slow going and by the time we got to the park for a break (~14 miles in) it was 2 hours after the supposed start time (~1:30 of ride time, I think we left almost 30 minutes late). Luckily, a few of the others who knew the loop were equally unprepared to spend the entire day riding 35 miles, so they split off to head home faster and I tagged along.
Positives: The ride back was great! There ended up being four of us in the group, and I like that size group. Definitely got to see a bunch of new scenery and some great roads. I realized that I can keep up on the commuter (even if the bell has an annoying habit of dinging itself whenever I hit bumps just right :) and I won't let the lack of road bike keep me from riding with them again.... although it was motivation to get it back in working order.
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Ok, so it wasn't a WEEKEND ride, but it was a ride :) I finally got out for an hour and put in a bit over 13 miles in almost 80 degree temps and sunshine - it was awesome!
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This is my first 'selfie' ever, I was really enjoying the sunshine! I tried to find some flowers, but there weren't any where I could get them in the same picture as my bike.
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My beloved Gunnar. I've gone from 1 bike, to 3, now back down to one. I love this bike - but eventually will need a backup commuter of some kind.
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Friday I took the day off work to participate in a supported ride to the top of Mt. Lemmon (climbs to over 8800 feet). Great start, though I am quite slow and many people passed me. The forecast said 20-30% chance of rain. The temps were nice, 60-70 degrees for much of the way up- short sleeve jersey weather. At the 3rd sag stop, about milepost 18, 7400 feet up or so, the clouds were ominous. Rain in southern Arizona is rare in May, and I figured if it did rain, it would be kind of misty. I put on my windbreaker and continued up. Hah! About 1 mile further, another 300 or 400 feet up and rain started turning to some kind of sleet/hail stuff. I kept going going, but it got more intense, and pea-sized pellets were hitting. The group I was with kept going ahead, a little faster than me. Then the road was getting covered with the stuff and I decided to turn back.
I made it back 1 1/2 miles or so to the sag stop. I couldn't feel my hands. The forecast said maybe in the 50's at the top of the mountain, but nothing about the low 40's with sleet/hail/snow or whatever it was. I got in one of the SAG vehicles and it took a while to warm up (my hands really hurt). I was afraid to ride down , and accepted a ride back about 4 miles to about the 6500 elevation mark.
The very fast riders who left early missed all the bad weather, but a lot of folks came close to hypothermia. The organizers ended up transporting about 20% of the riders- no one was prepared for such a drastic change in the weather. I had the windbreaker and arm warmers- but didn't think I would need more than that, based on the forecast. Now I know.
I was hoping to make it to the top, but not this time.
Crankin loved your story and Irulan, the pictures were beautiful.
