Oct 26 rides (Sunday)

Hubby loves to ride from the house, now that I ride the roads. And we've got a new trail! Normally, riding out of the house is our "hill" workout. But now the Missouri Research Park Connector is open--a 0.75 nature trail. It officially opened last weekend and connects to the Katy Trail (rail trail--ie FLAT). SO, now we can roll out of the driveway, get in a mini hill workout, cruise through a nice nature trail and hit the Katy for as long as we want to go! (runs across the state of Missouri--restaurant in every town).

And we got to share our discovery with a fellow biker! As we neared the park, I passed a gentleman on a mountain bike, moving at a good clip. I hated to pass him--however, I knew a big downhill was coming up and I wanted it to myself. As we rolled up to the trailhead, I noticed the mountain biker hovering off to the side--pondering the trail. But DH took off and we rode down to where a bridge crosses a stream. We stopped here and pondered the stream (I felt it had to be "dirty" because we passed the water treatment plant, so DH was pointing out how clear it looked--it had to be clean:rolleyes:) The mountain biker caught us again and asked where the trail came out or if was a dead-end. He was delighted to find out he was on the Katy--he had ridden much of it to the north. I advised to the left was pretty, but nothing until St. Charles--he took off. We turned right towards Weldon Springs. Dog gone, if he didn't catch us again at a stop light heading back to the house! We have a new friend:D He said he followed us, "because we looked like we knew where we were going!" That's always a bad plan:D

Of course, coming back from the Katy is my new nemesis hill. I've crested it once before, and today DH was riding my flank yelling "go girl, you're still doing 8 mph" when I stopped just short of the top. The wind picked up as we hit the hills on the way home, but that didn't bother me as much as my sudden lack of energy. I figured it out on the third hill--I couldn't breath! DH has been sick and now suddenly my sinuses were stopped up--and him with the kleenex leaving me behind! He finally doubled-back and after a good nose-blowing (TMI) I made it to the house. (Kleenex is now in the Bento Box:))

We did 23.7 miles to Great Brook Farm, via Chelmsford and back. A clear, gorgeous day, but we had torrential rain and wind last night, so there was a lot of debris on the road; lots of leaves, but they were mostly dry ones.
I am sort of glad it is the end of the season. My never ending bike fit saga is well, never ending. Tuesday I rode to the shop where he put me on the trainer, did the whole laser thing, since all of a sudden I am having pain in my right knee. That is since I got my new frame. My lower back has been complaining, too, despite the fact I am stretching like crazy. So, he raised my seat 5 mm. Then he said,"Who moved your bars?" I had moved them because last time I was in, he pushed them down so far, I felt like I could barely squeeze the brakes. Not reach, but the position was hurting my hands. So Tuesday, he put them back, and I just said, OK, screw him, I'll just change it when I get home.
I rode home and went out again Friday, which was one of the worst rides of my life. I had an altercation with a car at the main intersection near my house and I felt like something was funny with my brakes. I kept going, but something was not right. Yesterday I didn't ride, so today when we were getting ready, voila! He had forgotten to put the front brake back in place when he had taken the wheel off. I know, stupid of me not to look, but I am just pissed over the whole thing. I mean, he gave me a new frame for free, after 2 years, but for some reason, he can fit racers fine, but I am an enigma to him. Some of my issues have to do with my Fibromyalgia, perhaps, but the knee thing wasn't. It's better, but still aching a bit today on my ride.
Well, I still enjoyed the beautiful fall day with 60 degree temperatures. We got back at 4:30 and I thought, next Sunday it will be dark at this time :(.

Cunningham- wonderful ride description. :)

Crankin- I feel for you....it's really tough to be a woman with mysterious fit issues and have to rely on a man to try to de-mystify them....men don't have bodies like us! :(

My husband and I went on a GORGEOUS 24 mile ride through the countryside today- just beautiful autmn weather- 50's and sunny, breezy, dry leaves crunching, the smell of woodstoves in the air.... it was so good to be alive today and be lucky enough to ride our bikes together in such a beautiful place. :p

Ahhh, you can tell winter in nearly upon us. It's the time of year when chasing the shop ride guys for the first 5 miles without an adequate warm up ride comes home to roost...in my throat and lungs. For those miles, my throat fills up with what feels like wallpaper paste. Makes stops at red lights oh-so-ladylike as I hack, and gag, and try to clear the crap out. :mad: Blech.
After that, I'm fine. :rolleyes:

I promised DH I'd do the B-ride, having fresh legs from so little riding all week and with the N2 rained out yesterday. But, Pam (and my hacking) convinced me that maybe the C-ride was more my speed. And that was fine. Afterwards, Pam, her DH, my DH, and I rode down into Washington D.C. to see the D.C. 'cross races - the only cyclocross race in the District. We ran into some friends, got the scoop on others who had already raced, and watched a few laps of some race. Not sure who was racing, as we were no where near the start/finish line. It was fun nonetheless, and Pam and I made a pact - "Well, if you take up 'cross....I will, too." Ugh. And so it goes. :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 7rider

Ahhh, you can tell winter in nearly upon us. It's the time of year when chasing the shop ride guys for the first 5 miles without an adequate warm up ride comes home to roost...in my throat and lungs. For those miles, my throat fills up with what feels like wallpaper paste. Makes stops at red lights oh-so-ladylike as I hack, and gag, and try to clear the crap out. :mad: Blech.
After that, I'm fine. :rolleyes:

:rolleyes:

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Yes! I was afraid it was TMI, but it started going up that nemesis hill. I cleared my throat and ended up with a mouth full of p@#$%! I spent the last 5 miles trying to get rid of it--DH says I need to learn to spit on the fly--but I didn't want to wear it :eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crankin

I am sort of glad it is the end of the season.

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My DH and I are really lucky to be self employed- enabling us to tailor our riding times somewhat around the weather- a huge advantage.
It's funny, but to us this is sort of the start of the season...we do more bike ridng in the Fall than any other season. We don't do as well riding in 90 degree heat. We ride more in the Spring than when it's hot in the Summer, but in the Spring we are slightly out of shape after the winter. Two years ago we rode all through the winter, even January and Feb- it was fairly mild that winter, and clear roads.
So when Autumn comes, we are in the best shape we'll be in all year, and we really LOVE riding in the brisk cool weather between 30 and 55 degrees most of all. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cunninghamair

Yes! I was afraid it was TMI, but it started going up that nemesis hill. I cleared my throat and ended up with a mouth full of p@#$%! I spent the last 5 miles trying to get rid of it--DH says I need to learn to spit on the fly--but I didn't want to wear it :eek:

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Ok, I feel for you, that must be awful....but I just can't imagine clearing my throat and winding up with a mouth full of puss... :eek: :eek: Or 'wallpaper paste'? AGGGHHH! Yikes, what's up with that, it doesn't seem normal! :( Is it because of sickness? I do however get a really runny nose while cold weather biking, but it's just watery runny and I just sniff it and it's ok. Happens sometimes when I hit a cold air conditioned place in the summer as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cunninghamair

Yes! I was afraid it was TMI, but it started going up that nemesis hill. I cleared my throat and ended up with a mouth full of p@#$%! I spent the last 5 miles trying to get rid of it--DH says I need to learn to spit on the fly--but I didn't want to wear it :eek:

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Ugh...don't I know THAT one! :rolleyes:

As Crankin said, it was a gorgeous day around here today! I managed to get out for about a 45-minute ride and it felt great to get outside and get some exercise (between school craziness and work I have been cooped up inside TOO much lately especially with still not being able to run because of IT band problems). It's a bummer that it's getting to the end of the cycling season...before we know it we'll be having snow!! Then it will be snowshoeing time.

Cute buns, by the way!

Beautiful Texas fall day= 83 degrees. We went out to a trail west of town for some mountain biking before visiting the inlaws. I haven't been to a trail since the last time we ventured to this one almost a month ago. My tremors intensified astronomically once I got out on the trail which was unappreciated. Only 3 weeks until my neuro appointment and it couldn't feel further off.

DH tried a new side trail out there that is tight and twisty, with all the shaking I was not a happy camper. But we got off that little monster and onto the trail I had been on before. I did a few things that tripped me up last time, cross trained a lot but had a great time.

I got done and went back to face the little monster one more time while DH did a hammer lap. Still had a lot of trouble with it but made it through a few parts. Then I saw a road runner on the little monster and my day was suddenly awesome. Even living in Texas all my life I hadn't seen one until I was an adult. Everytime I see them I am still in awe. We even saw one driving into the trail as well. A beautiful day and 7.5 miles of singletrack.

well, Raleighdon had us leave home 2 hours earlier for our opera date. he wanted us to go through the Arboretum so we could feast our eyes on the incredible autumn colors of the trees there. We ate a picnic lunch in the park and took a bunch of photos. Look carefully in the pictures you will see lots of other people taking pictures too. I've never seen so many people out taking pictures. The last photo is me, 5 blocks from home. nice ride 28.5 miles, and we saw Elektra, the Strauss opera too. Oh I forgot. we went home via my normal commute route but Dear Old Raleighdon decided we needed more of a challenge. So instead of the wimpy 6% grade up, we took the 14% one instead. 2 blocks of 10-14% grade with me muttering cusswords under my breath. Not really, i was breathing too hard, i was just THINKING the cuss words.

Mimi: Beautiful pics. Thanks for posting them. I just cannot get over this weather we are having!
Jes

Okay, now I'm feeling guilty I haven't made it out there on the road! Those pics are beautiful Mimi! I should be enjoying this weather, uuugh!
... a 14% grade? Great job! You've inspired me to try our hill... on the next sunny weekend.;)
One way to get back to our house is going up a quarter mile and 18-20% grade hill. The other way is to keep going for about a mile or more of a 10-12% grade hill :( So I am a little nervous about leaving the house. And I refuse to drive to the bottom of the hill again! But now I will try to do it... on the next sunny day!:p

Mimi: Gee, I thought I was the only one who thinks (and sometimes out loud) swears while going up a hill!

Lisa: Just because I'm "glad" it's the end of the season, doesn't mean I won't be riding. I've learned that this is the natural course of things for me, though. I actually like riding in the fall better, too, and this year, at least I have time to do it. I usually ride semi regularly through November and maybe a couple of times in December. Last year my last ride was Dec. 7 and I did ride twice in January, when we got our Jamis bikes. I think I might have missed February.
I've just been a little bummed because I've had a lot of fit issues and then my fibro. kicked up a bit since I got back from my tour. So I have had to slow down and at times struggle, which does not make me happy one bit.
But, I am resolved to deal with what is essentially a strength issue over the winter, so I can feel great in March when riding commences for real again. I am thinking of taking a spin class that is geared for building endurance and strength, using HR zones. It's for 6 weeks and is taught by a one of the top ranked tri athletes in MA, who is a trainer. There's always something to work on!

Gorgeous Mimi! We do not have a showy fall color here, nothing I enjoy looking at more.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crankin

Lisa: Just because I'm "glad" it's the end of the season, doesn't mean I won't be riding. I've learned that this is the natural course of things for me, though. I actually like riding in the fall better, too, and this year, at least I have time to do it. I usually ride semi regularly through November and maybe a couple of times in December. Last year my last ride was Dec. 7 and I did ride twice in January, when we got our Jamis bikes. I think I might have missed February.
I've just been a little bummed because I've had a lot of fit issues and then my fibro. kicked up a bit since I got back from my tour. So I have had to slow down and at times struggle, which does not make me happy one bit.
But, I am resolved to deal with what is essentially a strength issue over the winter, so I can feel great in March when riding commences for real again. I am thinking of taking a spin class that is geared for building endurance and strength, using HR zones. It's for 6 weeks and is taught by a one of the top ranked tri athletes in MA, who is a trainer. There's always something to work on!

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Oh, I see. I'm glad you keep riding into the cold weather! :)
That spin class sounds good. I guess everything improves when you build up strength. (you are way stronger than me already though, you biking demon!) :cool:

I took a few spins around my neighborhood to test out the adjustments to my bike and see how my knee felt. So far so good. The weather here is delightful!

I had one of those rides on Sunday that start off as a short spin around a favorite "block" (a 17 mile block with some nice climbs, but a standard ride), but morph into oh of those "Oh YEAH! THAT'S why I ride!" rides.

My ride took me behind Cupertino into the foothills and over a couple of shorter but fairly steep climbs. The one climb is a steep grade for about a 1/4 of a mile, then uphill for another mile. I got to the top of that hill, looked around and realized that I had enjoyed the climb and wanted to do more. So when I came to the road that goes up the mountain or back into town, I went up for another 2 miles. I didn't go to the top because of time constraints, but I've noticed that I was climbing faster with less effort than I did the last time I climbed this mountain. I have been working on cadence and spin, and I am finally being converted from a big gear grinder (I have strong legs, so I tend to power my way through things) to a lower gear, higher cadence spinner and it makes such a difference with speed and just sheer endurance!! Then of course, I had a 3 mile down hill where I hit 40 mph - I felt as if I were flying. I can't remember enjoying a ride more. Runners talk about a runner's high - I think I had a cyclist's high! I want to get out there and do it again today but alas, I have to work :rolleyes:

I didn't to do my usual short mtb ride saturday (Lion's Club park in Rolla), so I wanted to ride sunday. My husband wanted to come along (he never rides) and bring my 5 year old Andy. I tried him out on his 20" wheel Gary Fisher hitchhiker, and he could reach the pedals! Previously it was just too big for him.
So we put the hitch clamp on my trek hybrid and set out for Al Foster trail. We rode the Al Foster trail until it comes to the start of a mtb trail called stinging nettle (about 2 miles)- me on my chocolate bike and my husband on my hybrid with Andy. My husband and Andy headed back- we figured 4 miles for his first time should be enough. I continued on to ride stinging nettle, which was in good shape and quite beautiful- except someone was riding a dirt bike all over it (I don't think they are supposed to have motorized vehicles on any of the Castlewood park trails).
Near Al Foster trail there is a miniature steam railway, so Andy and my husband were riding that when I got back. I turned around and rode back up Al Foster to ride along beside them as the puffed along. It was windy, but Al Foster trail has a bluff along one side and the river on the other, so in addition to being a beautiful ride, it also blocks the wind. We had a great time and Andy looked so cute on his trail a bike in his little gloves, helmet, elbow and knee pads.
vickie

It was LiveSTRONG weekend here in Austin (my husband is a 2 year survivor.) We rode our second LSC with a large team (Cyclists Combatting Cancer) who share both the cancer experience and a passion for cycling.

The ride was just wonderful. We had perfect weather for our 45 mile ride through the rolling hills of Dripping Springs. It was a beautiful thing to meet so many wonderful survivors and cancer supporters along the route.

I learned to ride ~3 months before last year's Challenge and walked my bike up most of the hills. This year, my goal was to get to the top of every hill on the bike and upright, and I've been training all year for it.

I'm proud to say this big body made it up every hill. It was a great feeling. And while normally I would've thought they'd somehow made the hills easier, it was my husband who pointed out, "Honey, look at how many people are walking their bikes!"

Yay :)

Two years of survivorship, a wonderful weekend of fellowship, and progress on the bike. Many good reasons to feel good.

Thanks to all the TE'rs who gave me umpteen pointers on preparing for the ride.

Deb

Congrats Deb! I was in Spicewood yesterday, the weather was fabulous we couldn't have ordered better for the Livestrong or playing outside in general. ;)

Congrats to DH for a milestone, my dad is a nearly 2 year survivor of colon cancer.

Mimi, I love your pictures. Everyone else, I enjoyed reading about your rides.

On Sunday I did my longest ride yet on Manhattan bike paths. I'm not sure of the miles -- probably 15-20. I rode from home (Wall Street) to the George Washington Bridge. The ride along the river was beautiful and I wish I'd had time to go farther.

This is the first time I've really wanted someone riding with me. When I talk about how lovely it is up there, everyone says "Oh, I know" having seen it from a train or sailboat or from across the river in NJ. No, they don't know what I saw -- wish someone had seen it with me, but riding partners will come later.

I am thrilled to find beautiful, new-to-me, and relatively safe places to ride. The bike path near my home is pleasant, but most of the area is newly turned into parkland and thus a bit sterile. The northern parts of Manhattan have older park areas, with bigger trees, and a greater variety of people. The scene reminds me of any number of movies about New York.

The bridge was an important goal for me because eventually I hope to ride across it and on to New Jersey. For this trip, I was happy to make it up there and home. It was my most tiring ride yet because I had to go fast to avoid being in unfamiliar areas after dark.

I saw four lyrically graceful kick bikers and a really adventurous Trikke rider. Wish I had space for those at home along with my bike and the four Xootrs we already have.

Pam