Any riders in Hillsboro, OR?

I am hoping to find someone or a small group of someones to train with. I live in Hillsboro. I just got a new shiny red road bike and I am quite smitten! My goals include racing in some duathlons this summer. I am fairly new to road cycling (read: riding a bike that rolls fast) and look forward to seeing what I can do. But that said—I am out there because it feels good to be out there and because it is fun. I would very much enjoy some company out there on the roads—more friends, more fun!

Availability: most mornings; Tuesday, Thursday, and/or Saturday would be ideal.

Favorite ride: Hagg Lake is fun if you have someone with you; alone it would be scary!

Quick bio: I am almost 34, a mom of a first grader, and studying for ACE personal trainer certification (yes, I *love* working out).

Anyone wanna ride bikes with me?

bluedress -
I wish I could help you out, but I'm on the other side of the country... but hey - there have to be some riders out your way since Team Estrogen is in Hillsboro too!

Welcome to the board - and enjoy your shiny new bike.

--- Denise

Thanks for the nice welcome, Denise! :)

Hi bluedress!

I'm in the Beaverton/Murrayhill area and would love to go on a ride every now and then. I've ridden to Hagg Lake from my house, but then I was too tired to ride around it once I got there. :rolleyes:

The main issues I have are with available time - I work fulltime and go to school fulltime. And the next two weeks are out of the question - it's time for finals! :eek:

Can you do Sundays or Saturday afternoons?

Dianyla-

Yes, let's do set up a ride sometime soon. I will be out of town the last weekend of March through the first weekend of April. The husband, kid, and I are taking a whirlwind tour of Texas to see all of our southerly located parents, siblings, and pals; we will need to hang on to our hats for sure!

Weekends are pretty flexible for me so I think we should be able to work something out. April maybe? :D

The first time I rode Hagg Lake we rode from McMenamins in Cornelius. I was stunned stupid by the first hill we encountered as we went around the lake. Then the hills just kept coming...and coming. The next time I went there (just last week) I *drove* there and went around the lake twice and could have gone more if time had allowed. I think it helped that I knew what to expect after the first time. Also, my legs are in better shape now, too. It is a fun ride. 10 mile loop. Rolling hills, some on the longer side, but none that steep.

Best of luck on your finals!
--Marca

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Originally Posted by bluedress

My goals include racing in some duathlons this summer.

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Scratch that--I am going TRI! Bring it *all* on!

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Originally Posted by bluedress

Weekends are pretty flexible for me so I think we should be able to work something out. April maybe? :D

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Sounds like a good plan, let's plan on April then. It will be good to get out and do some longer rides, lately I've either been a) not riding much or b) 5-10 mile commute type stuff.

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Originally Posted by bluedress

I think it helped that I knew what to expect after the first time. Also, my legs are in better shape now, too. It is a fun ride. 10 mile loop. Rolling hills, some on the longer side, but none that steep.

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Yeah, you're probably in a lot better shape now than when you first attempted it. I was reading your intro post - if you've done the MS150 that route will probably look a whole lot different in retrospect. :)

What kind of pace do you usually keep? I have always thought of myself as a bit on the pokey side, but I was always plodding along on mountain bikes with slick tires. Now my brand new Orbea seems to make me ride much faster. The end of ride computer avg is still usually right around 15mph, but I find myself ramping up to higher speeds occasionally. And I'm missing my granny gears, but I'll get over that.

We ought to be a good match then—my avg. around Hagg Lake last week was ~15mph. I rode up Springville (from 185th to Skyline) this past Sunday and my pace was not so "speedy"—avg. was 12.5 mph—I am not sure how it counted my utter lack of pedaling on the way down Old German Town :eek: in that avg. I have to work on my low gear pedaling so that may slow me a bit—need to learn to use bike efficiently and not grind all the way through my rides.

No granny gears? Did you go with a compact double or standard double crank? After much fretting I went with the standard double. We will see how just how machismo I really am.

But, yes, I look forward to riding together.

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Originally Posted by bluedress

We ought to be a good match then—my avg. around Hagg Lake last week was ~15mph. I rode up Springville (from 185th to Skyline) this past Sunday and my pace was not so "speedy"—avg. was 12.5 mph—I am not sure how it counted my utter lack of pedaling on the way down Old German Town :eek: in that avg. I have to work on my low gear pedaling so that may slow me a bit—need to learn to use bike efficiently and not grind all the way through my rides.

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So you're bit of a masher eh? I've been getting better at spinning, otherwise my knees start talking to me. I can get going pretty fast on flats (even up to 20 if I'm really cranking and there's a nice tailwind ;) ) but then I'll hit a hill and bam! Down to 7mph.

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Originally Posted by bluedress

No granny gears? Did you go with a compact double or standard double crank? After much fretting I went with the standard double. We will see how just how machismo I really am.

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I've got a Shimano triple in front, but it's all relative you see. I was used to riding on mountain bikes with very low grannies where I could just drop down to the bottom 1-2 gears and creep up a really bad stretch of hill. Now I have to be in better shape to spin in bottom gear.

I'm not sure I'm quite up to starting this ride from home at the moment (I've got a case of winterbutt going on) but since it's only a 10 mile loop maybe we should start somewhere away from the lake to add a little extra mileage. There's a good hill to climb to get up to the lake. How far is it from the McMenamins? (Sounds like a good post-ride place to land, if you ask me! :) )

Bluedress, Dianyla,

Are you on the CycleOregon Yahoogroups e-list? If not, you should be. :) All local riders, most if not all of whom have done CO at least once. Seems like just about every weekend someone cobbles together a group ride. EVERYONE is welcome, regardless of speed. We usually regroup alot. This past weekend, we did a 50-miler that had two out-and-back climbing segments. That was great, because when the slower riders saw the faster riders on the way back down, we just turned around and rejoined the group on the descent. Everyone had a great time.

It's a really friendly group of people - you should come on out! We often ride on the west side. Last weekend's ride started at Sweet Oregon Grill and went out to North Plains, up Old Pumpkin Ridge, out Dairy Creek and back to S.O.G.

You can find the yahoogroups list here: http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=cycleoregon I should also mention that although the group's stated "purpose" on yahoo is "for cyclists and emergent cyclists who have signed up for the CycleOregon organized cycle ride". But in reality, the group hardly ever talks about C.O.

Susan

Thanks, Susan. I requested to be added to the group. Now I will just have to work on building the nerve to show up to a group ride with the feeling that I am the only one who doesn't know anybody:eek:. (It is amazing how some things are no easier as an adult than they were as a kid.) ~Marca

Hi Susan, thanks for posting this! I'm signed up now. :)

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Originally Posted by bluedress

Now I will just have to work on building the nerve to show up to a group ride with the feeling that I am the only one who doesn't know anybody:eek:.

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Yah, no kidding! I feel exactly the same way. :rolleyes:

Dianyla--
Maybe we can show up together...safety in numbers u know. ;)
~M

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Originally Posted by bluedress

Dianyla--
Maybe we can show up together...safety in numbers u know. ;)
~M

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Brilliant!

Maybe you can relate to this sentiment since I know you also just bought a new fancy bike... When I was riding beater bikes I always felt like a wannabe and now that I've got a nice bike I feel like such a poseur! (or, wouldn't that be poseuse?) :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Susan Otcenas

Are you on the CycleOregon Yahoogroups e-list? If not, you should be. :)

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Uhoh - apparently I'm not worthy! My request to join was denied. :eek: