Sunday 8 Feb Rides

My first time outdoors in several weeks, so I was in heaven.

When I started before dawn, it was clear and the moon was very bright. It actually lit up the trail. Warm (43 degrees!) but there were still the remains of melting glaciers along the trail. For those local to DC, I rode on the Custis and W&O -- neighborhood streets were clear but still some salt/sand. And new potholes! The only wildlife I spotted were bunnies. Wonder where the foxes were hiding, as there are a lot of them in the area and I usually have several cross my path.

I savored every moment of my 43-miler. Must admit that spending all that time w/Coach Troy and crosstraining has made me a lot stronger. I think I'm going to have to keep kickboxing in my schedule because my core has gotten very solid from it.

Tomorrow will be cold during my pre-work ride time. If it's above 25, I'll venture outside again.

My fluffiest golden (Fiona) is starting to blow her winter coat---dare I hope it's a sign that spring will arrive a little early?

You sure got an early start! I'm still sitting here, sipping my tea, and wondering what to wear for my ride today. :D

My first ride in a week. I feel pretty much 100% recovered from the stomach flu, but as always with those things I've lost some muscle and stamina, so I was glad that a couple of the other guys had their own reasons for keeping the ride short, 32 miles. The cold snap's over and it's a beautiful day. I even made it back in time for church, which doesn't normally happen if I do the Sunday ride. So I got another two miles on the commuter bike!

I was going to go today but decided my legs were too tired from the running yesterday for a road ride in 25 mph winds and DH didn't feel like heading to the trail. A warm bath and laundry made for a peaceful morning. :)

Did the club ride again today, finally felt my strength coming back. Wind again, but not as bad as yesterday. Another beautiful day in the texas hill country. I am so glad winter seems to be behind us!

Bite your tongue Trick! I have had plenty of ice days in February. I really wish we could be stuck inside with about a week a rain myself. :rolleyes:

Gorgeous day in NC with temps in the low 70s! After a mighty cold snap (and snow) recently, it felt great. :p DH and I pulled out the mountain bikes, pumped up the tires, and took a short jaunt around the neighborhood gravel roads. Just 32 minutes total, but my palms (even in gloves) and wrists were already feeling it, and I am sure my neck will be tomorrow. I'm also just over quadriceps tendinitis so am taking everything a bit easy. Did a short trail run yesterday, but I must admit that the ride was a great deal more fun! :D

I am sure it will be cold again by next weekend knowing our typical up and down weather, but this early burst of spring was just great... :p

I did a Dusk To Dawn mountain bike race. What fun we had! Now if only I could erase the memory (and the bruises) from the two little trips I had over the bars while I was a bit tired and the concentration slipped!:D

This has been the coldest, nastiest winter in South Carolina that I can remember in over 10 years.

I haven't ridden my bike outdoors in over 2 months, and ugh, I hate trainer rides but have done a few lately.

Today it was breezy but ABOUT 70 DEGREES. Whoopeeeee.

I rode 21 miles and had plenty of kick left at the end. I guess the occasional trainer rides and plenty of swimming have served me well this winter.

Yay!

I got out early for a spin 'round the island. 20-30mph steady west winds, and warm--almost 50º! Well, 50 sounds warm when it's been 4º the last few mornings. I wore only 1 base layer, 1 bolero, and a jacket. That was not quite enough. Still, my head was in a good place, and I felt great even though I was cold by the end.

I wimped out and didn't ride after listening to the 30 mph wind gusts blowing outside. :o

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wackyjacky1

I wimped out and didn't ride after listening to the 30 mph wind gusts blowing outside. :o

---

Wacky- It is howling in NW Austin Area today. DH went and rode, when he returned I asked how it was and his reply "brutal". He is a strong rider and said in the headwind he was having trouble keeping it in double digits on a relatively flat road he can usually average 18-20 mph on. Don't fret it is a bit hairy out there!

I may be a wimp but I generally chose to ride when I will enjoy it, feeling like I am blowing over is something I do not enjoy. If I am training for a ride I will suck it up but since right now I am not training for any rides, I chose to enjoy my Sunday with my fur kids, watch skiing on TV and do laundry. Have some more tea and embrace your wind weenydom. :D

I lied a little bit about the wind today. What got me, was that it picked up over the course of the ride, so when we shoulda had a tailwind, it was pretty calm, but then when we came back in we had quite the headwind. I think it didn't *feel* as bad as yesterday cuz I drafted more on todays ride. We had one strong male rider willing to do all the pulling, so what's a girl to do? Hang on for dear life..................

I was willing to put up with the wind (it must be everywhere today), but the frozen door on my bike shed had other ideas. My road bike is on the trainer and I would not ride it in the conditions on the roads today. But, I was really looking forward to getting out on the Jamis, even for 10 miles. But, despite the 47 degree temperature and lots of melting, I couldn't get one last bit of thick ice along the bottom of the doors to melt. This is the first time in 4 years I haven't had at least one ride in January or so far, February. But, I have been doing lots of winter sports, so I don't feel too bad.
I really needed a rest day after a very hard spin class Thursday, my wimpy, but hard for me running on Friday, and extremely challenging x country skiing yesterday.
Wednesday looks like another fairly warm day...

I had been hoping to ride today (I've been able to ride only ONCE, a 10 miler, since Dec 2nd!) :( ....but again foiled by the rotten weather.
It was 45F but dark and rainy and the winds were nasty. The roads were a huge mess of mud and sand and salt and old ice.
DH and i walked 4 miles instead.

I am determined to at least get in 10 miles on my bike tomorrow- forecast says high of 35F and SUNNY! I'll have to check the roads first though.

I'm going bananas not being able to ride my bike at all for weeks on end.

Emily is right - today was a gift here in NC. Lovely and over 70 - felt HOT! Main roads still have salt on them from the last snow that was predicted, but didn't materialize. Side streets are clear.

Got in a few miles - testing out my back that has been PO'd with me, and getting a feel for outdoor miles again:)

CA

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

Wacky- It is howling in NW Austin Area today. DH went and rode, when he returned I asked how it was and his reply "brutal". He is a strong rider and said in the headwind he was having trouble keeping it in double digits on a relatively flat road he can usually average 18-20 mph on. Don't fret it is a bit hairy out there!

---

Brutal throughout Texas. The wind was a steady 24mph with gusts up to 30 here in Houston today. :eek:

I rode a tough 40. Going out downwind was great, but coming in was a nightmare. I felt like a giant windsock. Even coasting downhill was impossible. Oh well, like they say what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

Great ride. I'm feeling better on the bike than I have in years. It's pretty amazing. Yay! :)

Well, I suffered through a windy 42 miler on the eve of my 46th b'day. I couldn't have done it without Silver pulling for most of the ride!

DH and I did pretty much a repeat ride from yesterday, but it was pleasantly uneventful. Did make the requisite stop at the LBS to say "hey."
Did see a fox in our backyard this a.m. He was checking out the bird feeder, and the birds were not too pleased about it. :o Also saw a pair of pileated woodpeckers and the yellow-bellied sapsucker made an appearance after having been away for about a month. Yeah...our ride started late, and we spent the morning drinking coffee and bird watching out our back window! :D

Lovely day - met a friend and rode at Prince William Forest Park. 20+ miles. Quite the ride between the hills and the headwind, could not have passed on the beautiful day. Wishing it would last, but tomorrow is supposed to be 10 degrees cooler.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

Emily is right - today was a gift here in NC. Lovely and over 70 - felt HOT! Main roads still have salt on them from the last snow that was predicted, but didn't materialize. Side streets are clear.

Got in a few miles - testing out my back that has been PO'd with me, and getting a feel for outdoor miles again:)

CA

---

It was quite windy today, at least in the afternoon when we rode, as it sounds like it was many places in the US today. But at least it was warm, and riding back in the woods, we were fairly well protected from the wind. Thankfully, it was a *warm* wind. Finally!

CA, hope your back recovers quickly. Injuries are no fun!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

Well, I suffered through a windy 42 miler on the eve of my 46th b'day. I couldn't have done it without Silver pulling for most of the ride!

---

Happy birthday (tomorrow), Mr. Silver! :) :) :) :) :)

Went on my first group ride today with my new clipless pedals, and FELL DOWN! The best part was that I fell in front of a car...total bliss :rolleyes:! I also got my very first biking related gashing from the second fall I took only seconds after the first when I was trying to get my butt off the road. So, now my purdy baby has her very first road scuffs...I'm so proud!

Can't wait to get back out there this week since the weather's going to be in the lower 70's for a couple of days! Yeehaw :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

Happy birthday (tomorrow), Mr. Silver! :) :) :) :) :)

---

Yes, HAPPY (early) BIRTHDAY, Mr. Silver!!!!

Elected not to ride yesterday because of the howling winds but today was a totally different story. Today was a beautiful day here in Kentucky. The sun was shining the winds were calm and the temps in the mid-50s. I set out to explore some new roads on the other side of town and was not disappointed in what I discovered. All the snow and ice from last week's storm is long gone and in turn the creeks were flowing fast and several had jumped their banks. I was treated to a beautiful waterfall along the way. In the end I logged 30 miles. My legs did talk to me on and off along the way. It was the hills that caused the most talking. I must admit I'm a bit concerned for my first century is the first weekend in March and I wonder if my legs will make it guess I'll find out then.

It was the first non-frigid day up here in a long time, and everyone was outside taking advantage of it! My brother, mom, and I went for a 10.5mi ride. As with most of you, it was brutally windy, even more so because we're on the shore. The glare of the sun off the remaining snow and wet roads made it tricky to see, and in a few places we had to ride around or walk past the pools of water in the road. It just felt great to be outside again. Spring's almost here!

Happy birthday Mr. S!

Happy Birthday Mr. Silver!!!!

Hope your day is fabulous!!

Tailwinds,

CA

Happy Birthday Mr Silver!!!

Despite the wind, it was two day of outdoor riding and loved it. Saturday I rode my 20 mile route. A lot of pot holes sure have developed since my last out door ride last month.

And Sunday was a ride I have been wanting to do for quite a while and it really makes for a good ride for this time of year especially if it is extra windy. My girlfriend and I road loops around SUNY Old Westbury. The road around the school is about 4.5 miles, but with some nice hills. One stretch of uphill was against the wind bringing us down to like 6mph, but I did with my friends coaxing. Road 3 lapse, planning on 4 next time. Maybe 5 if there is less wind :)

~ JoAnn

Happy B'day (belated) Mr. Silver! I'm three days older than you ;) We both got great weather for our birthdays.

Well happy belated birthday Mickchick then!

Happy belated birthday Mick and Silver, glad we sent some spring weather on up for you. :p My birthday is in a week, if it weren't a busy time at work I think I would take some PTO and go play outside. Maybe I can in the afternoon.

Happy belated Birthday, Mickchick! Here's hoping the early spring stays in your neck of the woods:)

CA