April 10 Rides

Thom and I did the Silverado Trail today. We started in Calistoga, went to Napa, turned around and came back. I pulled for probably 2/3 of the ride. On the way back I was having trouble drafting. It saps too much of my mental energy when I'm tired. I was actually faster when in front.

We had a slight tailwind and averaged 19.6 for the first 27 miles, which climbed all of 340 feet! Still I was pretty stoked with that.

The return wasn't nearly as fast. We averaged 16.2 and climbed 725 feet.

I don't do many flat rides, so this was an interesting change. I did stay in my big ring the entire day. :p

I'll post the elevation profile in the elevation thread.

We had a late lunch/early dinner at Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen. Yummy stuff. My appetizer was a chocolate malt.

V.

V, 19.6 for 27 miles is awesome! Sounds like a fun ride.

I did a whopping 8.5 miles with 1011 feet. I just felt crummy out there today, so decided a recovery swim tomorrow is in order, and I will live to fight another day.

Some days the bike just doesn't feel good. There was one day I did a whooping 8 miles, with like no elevation. Nothing felt right. I thought I had prickers in my knickers, my jersey was too tight, my socks were tight...It's supposed to be fun.

I wish I could make myself get to the pool. It's wonderful cross training. But the hours for lap swim just don't suit me. I want to swim at 4 PM, not 7. Whine, whine, whine. :p

Remember, not every day has to be epic. Goodness, who could live that?!

V.

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Originally Posted by Veronica

I wish I could make myself get to the pool. It's wonderful cross training. But the hours for lap swim just don't suit me. I want to swim at 4 PM, not 7. Whine, whine, whine. :p
V.

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I am grateful my schedule works really well with the pool right now. I am enjoying it for cross training, but also for recovery. I find it a much easier environment to keep my heart rate down in for recovery, as opposed to machines at the gym. And, I can definitely keep my HR down lower than I can on the bike!

Today, April 10th is the first day I felt comfortable enough to commute to work ALONE. I don't like riding in the dark and it finally is light enough in the morning.
I dress differently when I commute to work. I wear my work clothes, since the entire trip is flat or downhill. I wore a skull cap under my helmet but did nothing else for the cold except wear my brilliant raincoat.
The large long hill that takes me from Beacon Hill to Boeing field (a filled in river bed) was devoid of traffic. I heard the birds chirping and felt my fingers freezing, but I knew once I got down to sea level that I would work hard enough to warm those fingers up. At the intersections, I encountered reasonable motorists. I didn't have to stop for every light! and then finally, I was on company property. A friendly guard waved me in and I cruised along AT THE SPEED LIMIT of 15mph, along with the jitney drivers, the trucks and a few cars. I crossed the street at the light, leaving company property for a moment and then entering company property for my favorite part of the commute. I went under the bridge that takes you to South Park, and into the very hangar that they used to build bomber planes in during world war II. but this building is not what it used to be. Once it was filled with hundreds of workers and noisy machines, and cars and bikes and
all sorts of vehicles going up and down the road. The road going through these buildings was so busy that it was nicknamed "Burma Road" And there I was, riding down that road surrounded by utter silence. the pavement is so smooth that there was no sound at all as I cruised through. I can't ride through that building without thinking of the thousands of people who worked there over the years, the Rosy the Rivetters, and all the fathers and grandfathers who made this work their career, and now, there is nothing left in that building except storage and memories.
I got to work with rosy cheeks and a smile. AND i was awake.
Coming home was another story. The lovely sunny (windy) day had turned, the sky was angry and the wind, haha, was still there. It started to rain on me the last mile of my journey, but even with my tired legs, I got up the hill okay and home.

Starfish, 8 miles and 1000 feet of climb is QUITE a ride!

Mimi, neat commute!!!!

21 miles on some hillier roads and through neighborhoods to shield from the wind. 12.9

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

Starfish, 8 miles and 1000 feet of climb is QUITE a ride!

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I was thinking that too! I know how I'd do on a climb like that! I'd still be wroking on it tomorrow!

Karen in Boise

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Originally Posted by Veronica

Remember, not every day has to be epic. Goodness, who could live that?!

V.

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I've been thinking that , with my work schedule that seems to make everyday epic. I'm glad I have a Friday off coming up with nothing going on(as I fill out a 300K app:rolleyes: ).
Where was ? I got the Friday out for a 12 mile spin. Reminded me what a neat bike it is.

Did my usual 15.2 mile loop after work. It was 43, windy, grey, and not particularly inviting. I did the loop in reverse, which makes the beginning flatter, but it might have been a good idea to have a little bit of rollers in the beginning because I was freezing. I should have worn my "2nd level" winter gloves; my fingers felt numb for about half of the ride, which rarely happens to me. In fact, I felt like I could have worn my Ibex pants because my legs were cold, which also was a first.
Even though I haven't been riding outside in 10 days (well, except on my commute bike for 8 miles) I feel like I'm in better riding shape now. I didn't use my granny gear until I got to the 10-15% grade on my street and I was able to pull my husband up the first half of the hill at 10.5.
Veronica, you are right. Some days, it just doesn't work. Not only was I cold, but my tights were annoying me by the zippered bottom and my feet felt weird. Oh yea, and the Sheebest shorts I bought s*ck. The pad is irritating me. I know everyone loves them, but now I feel like I wasted money, even though they were on sale.

Managed to get in 35 miles after work last night with my training partner. It was windy and cold by the time we headed out, and I felt like the Michelin man with all of the clothes I had on!

We did the normal "rolly" loop out of my house (Robyn - I entertained a climb up annyeurism hill, but avoided it since my first TT is tonight ;) ), and averaged a slow pace of 15.6.

My legs felt like lead last night - I hope they shape up for the TT tonight!

SheFly

SheFly, we only saw one cyclist during our ride yesterday; I thought it might be you, because she was wearing NEBC gear, but I guess it wasn't, since she was alone.
I have a bike committee meeting tonight, but next week, I will try to get down to the TT finish to watch; if I remember, it starts at 6, so the finish for you guys is probably around 6:40-7:00? That's my usual loop, I won't say how long it takes...

I got to ride partway up Mt. Tam (to Pantoll) with my husband yesterday before sunrise. This is super unusual for us as our daughter is with friends in Stinson Beach for 2 days - so we're childless! It was a great ride - only 12 miles but 6 miles straight climbing (1400 feet in 6 miles).

And when we came back down the hill we got to watch the sunrise over Angel Island and the SF Bay. It was so clear we could see Mt. Diablo and DH swears he could see the Sierras. The sunrise reflecting on the bay with house lights still on the periphery - just amazing!

Beautiful ride!!

What a cool ride MP.

V.

If you guys had been there we'd have some great photos. :cool: It seriously was amazing. But I love riding from dark into sunrise. You usually get to see moon and stars and then the red glow.

Most of my most epic undertakings (Death Rides, climbing Mt. Whitney several times, etc.) have started before sunrise, so it's a special time of day for me.

My ride for the 10th was a commute.
Was uneventful in the a.m. - if a bit cold.
In the evening, I got a flat 0.75 mile from home and ended up walking the bike the rest of the way home. I was too lazy to take off the panniers, the wheel and change the flat. The bike sits on it's rack in the garage right now, still with a flat tire. :( I haven't looked at the tire, but my guess is it's shredded pretty good. I ran over something nasty. Looks like I'll be putting on the summer tires -- 700 x 25's vs. 28's and no reflective sidewall -- sooner than I anticipated.
So, not including the walk, I got in a lucky 13 miles!

18 mi round trip commute. I am really hoping to get a lot more in this year. Between picking up the kids at school for various activities and the rain of last year. I didn't do as well as I had hoped. So far 11 this year. IF it would stop snowing I might get a few more April rides in. I am tired of my warm weather gear, although I do like to ski.:D

45.5 mile ride in the glorious spring sunshine with a new riding buddy.
Shweet. :)

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Originally Posted by SheFly

It was windy and cold by the time we headed out, and I felt like the Michelin man with all of the clothes I had on!
SheFly

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LOL...I am going to have an opportunity to move to a new region of the country in the next year or so, and I am trying to figure out where. I keep saying...I don't want to have to dress like the Michelin man in the summer!

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

Starfish, 8 miles and 1000 feet of climb is QUITE a ride!

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I live in a little town sandwiched between salt water and glaciers. I live on a hill, and I can either ride down, or ride up, or put my bike on the car and drive it 20 miles to where there are some flat areas. So, if I only have time for a little ride out my back door, choices are limited.

I have a road out the back door that climbs 5000 feet in less than 18 miles, up into the Olympic National Park. It is beautiful, and handy, but it climbs 1700 feet in the first 5 miles. (I have a triple AND a 32 on the back!)