Weekend Rides, April 25-27

Had not one, but TWO great rides today! The weather has prevented us from riding consistently in Indiana so far, so I wanted to keep my combined mileage at 30 miles, and I didn't exceed that too far.

The first ride was an 11 mile ride on my lovely new Ms. Plum Blossom, Ms. PB for short. That is one sweet ride! I would have ridden her further, but I need as much clipless practice that I can get before moving to clipless on Ms. PB and the Jamis. Was going to wait for this pm to give my legs a chance to rest a bit, but the weather forecast had me out of the door right at an hour after coming in from my first ride.

Second ride, on the LHT was just a shy over 22 miles, and it was a great ride as well! My legs seem fine with the clipless, no odd pains like last weekend when I returned to the pedals. It was interesting to feel the weight difference between the two bikes on the same stretches of road.

All total, 33.6 miles for the day, while a little longer than I had planned, I will take it - gathering rain clouds made the inward part of my ride a little faster than planned :)

No problem with the clipless, outside of a tendency to forget my LEFT foot is clipped in - I actually stop with my right foot and you would think that wouldn't be a problem - more practice will take care of it. I feel great after the two rides, and even remembered to do my after-bike-stretches - both times :)

Now I just need time, and a lack of rain, to start breaking in the Jamis :cool: I have to get at least a few paved miles on her so they can adjust the rear suspension for me.

Yesterday (Friday) was a day off, so I did a solo ride on one of my regular routes- 20 miles up to the base of Mt. Lemmon.

Today I rode with a group and we did about 40 miles south and east of Tucson. I haven't ridden with them in a while, and everyone had a chance to admire my new bike. It's warming up here in the desert, and thin cloud cover was much appreciated. The last 5 miles we had a nice tailwind and my speed was over 20 mph the whole way except for at stoplights.

It's freezing and raining here, no riding today. Yesterday I got in a nice 13.5 mile hilly ride, after the job fair and working on my paper for 2 hours.
Last weekend (I don't think there was a thread) I rode about 120 miles between Thursday and Monday, so the crappy weather all week didn't bother me.
Going to go get on the dreadmill.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._7070542_n.jpg

we have SUN!!! we rode to Alki beach and then to Lincoln Park (almost)and back home 26 miles.

Such a fun picture of you and your hubby by the water, congrats on a great ride!

Nice pic- gorgeous sunny day

Misty, dark, cool morning, so we skipped our usual market ride and walked and took the bus instead. Eventually it warmed up and got clear very late in the day, but I had cooking to do so sent DH off on a ride while I played domestic goddess for awhile. Will ride tomorrow in sunshine and 70s/80s! :D

I did a 30 miler on Fri, and didn't ride yesterday because of heavy rain. Today, I got out early in dense fog. It was creepy haunted house movie fog. Visibility was less than a quarter mile for most of the ride. I thought I wouldn't see another cyclist, but at the turn around, I could see a guy approaching, about to turn onto the road I was on. I knew being that close behind, he would be trying to catch me, and although I was on my cross bike, I decided it would be fun to play rabbit for Easter. ;)

I kept him off for a few miles. I'd look back and see I was dropping him, then next time I looked he'd be closer. I know every crack in the road, and knew my best chance of losing him was where the road turns into a giant pothole infestation (I can ride over potholes really well for some reason. If I have a cycling "gift", it's this). I gunned it there, and sure enough, couldn't see him when I looked back. Then, not so far later, there he was, on my right. :cool: I told him I was trying, and he said I was flying. I was glad he was on a road bike, no shame being passed by a Cervelo. ;) He asked if I'm a racer. I know how this works, it's what you say to ease the blow, but still, one for the ego. :) The he dropped me. :D Awesome ride. Really fun. Loved the weather, and the sport.

Red - sounds like an awesome ride! I would love to play in the fog like that, haven't yet had that opportunity. Hopefully that will change this year :)

It was sunny and 70 degrees in Portland yesterday. I rode my bike from home to the Oregon Zoo, which involves two short, steep hills and one long "torture" hill up to the Zoo. I rode a grand total of over 18 miles yesterday and my DH was my official "photojournalist" for my first ever attempt to the Zoo. I was very proud. Not to mention I burned over 1,000 calories in this lengthy ride!

Red - great story! and Velocivixen, congrats on your zoo ride and hills.

My DH is not on his road bike yet after his accident but can ride his mountain bike and joined me for a climb up the lower part of Mt. Lemmon. We did 20 miles total, including about 2000 feet of climbing from the base. Almost everyone passes us.... but we get there. I was tempted to go higher but I wanted to avoid the wind that was supposed to pick up after 8 am. The descent, as always, was a lot of fun. We started at 6 am, and there was almost no traffic (cars or bikes) but there were a lot of groups riding up as we headed down.

Didn't get a chance to ride yesterday - my dad came early in the morning and brought me new (to me) furniture (actually, it's my parents' furniture from when the first got married 36 years ago... still in beautiful condition and I love it!). So I figure for Saturday, my workout was hauling those huge heavy dressers and all the empty boxes for moving up the steep hill from the road to my house.

This morning I got out early before the wind sped up to 30mph again. Went on my ~16 mile route and loved every minute of this beautiful day. It was already in the 80s at 8 a.m. so it was quite warm, but overall an incredibly satisfying ride. The hills that use to kill me and make me think I was going to have a stroke going up them are easy for me now and I love love love the feeling of being so strong! All the wind we've had this spring may be annoying, but it sure has made me stronger. I'm on call today so the rest of the day will be spent in luxurious relaxation doing laundry and preparing food for the rest of the week in anticipation of being called in to place a pacemaker or pull worms from a doggy's heart.

I hope everyone enjoys their Easter and they have as beautiful a day as we are having (heat and wind and all)!!

Today we had plans to see the glass exhibit at the MFA with our cycling friends. The weather forecast was for sun in the AM, with clouds and the possibility of showers in the afternoon. It was already 68 when we left at 10 AM to head to Boston. I was regretting our plans and actually felt a physical uncomfortableness about not riding (I am pretty sure this is what addiction feels like). The exhibit was great, we ate lunch, which made me sleepy, and headed off to see 2 floors of the new wing of the museum. I could see it was clouding up when we left. As we drove home, we were all discussing if we would ride later, as the raindrops started hitting the windshield. But, we decided to head out, it was just sprinkling.
First ride of the year in just shorts and a short sleeved jersey :). We decided to stay within a few miles of home, so we headed up the other hill in town that is like our street, about 4 miles away. As we descended and headed out to do a loop around town, it started raining quite a bit more steadily. But, it was about 70 out, so we kept going, until finally, I decided it was enough and headed home. Of course, as we started ascending the hill up my street, it stopped.
A grand total of 11 miles, 2 big hills, and I went up the very steep side of my street for the first time this year.

I had a fantastic ride today! It was my longest so far in 2011 -- 35.5 miles. Weather was rather warm -- mid 70s starting out (at 9:30 am), and low 80s by the time I got home 3 hours later (I took a lot of breaks). Quite windy, sunny. Two things stood out:

1. Very light traffic due to it being Easter morning and so many in church. We aren't church-goers, so this was fine with me!

2. I tried my TENS unit on my lower back on the right for the first time on a ride. It really helped a lot with the pain I still get from my accident, which enabled me to ride much longer either pain-free or close to it. This time, my quads were the part of me that hurt the most at the end of the ride, not my hip.

This was a solo ride as DH was riding his Trek and just way too fast for me me -- he did 80. But that was fine as it gave me the freedom to stop and stretch, eat, adjust my TENS, etc. whenever I wanted. I even found a much-appreciated port-a-let along the way when I needed it most (there are no bathrooms on this route at all).

I'm still high from this ride! :D

well I was planning to ride, but we had thunderstorms all weekend- but I'm so HAPPY to see the rain since we are in the most severe drought since the 1930's. The rain is glorious and welcome- I'll ride another day!:)

Yesterday I did the Kensington Park Loop, it's not a long ride, just about 9 miles but it has some pretty good hills on it, variable terrain and it's a gorgeous ride around the lake.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/32466264

I spent most of yesterday afternoon test-riding bikes* so rode up and down more hills than I normally encounter in a month (I'm sooo not a hill rider). After dark, I took a nice 12-mile ride through woods, around a lake, and back... and I found my back tire flat today. I'm glad it was a slow leak, because I'd not have been thrilled at having to change a tire in the woods in the dark.

After changing the tire today, I took a 21-mile ride through the same woods and over to the lake, and then took a couple of the other trails which branch off from there. I knew the forecast was for storms this afternoon/evening, so kept one eye on the sky and when I saw clouds in the west, I headed home. Was home about 10 minutes when the thunder started, followed by a deluge. It was 88°F when I got home; I'd had to dump water on my head twice while on the trails.

I noticed my front tire was looking a little low on the way home. Bet it's flat now; I checked the tire when I got home and found a piece of glass embedded in it. That'll be my fourth (!) flat tire this year, more than I've had collectively since buying the bike eight years ago!


*Bianchi Imola, Jamis Coda (twice), Cannondale Quick 2 (twice), Marin Fairfax (twice), and a Kona Dew Plus. The Marin was unbelievably bad [for me], I'd kill myself on the Bianchi [lovely ride, though], the Jamis is still in the running, and the Cannondale felt as though it was made for me except for the width of the top tube, which is fat, as are my thighs, which hit it. Were it not for that, I doubt I'd have kept looking, as that bike felt that great.

We had wonderful weather on Sat. -- 70 degrees!!! We've barely been above 50 degrees this spring. It was heavenly. DH and I did 35 lovely miles on winding country roads around the neighborhood. Lots of wonderful scenery. Actually felt warm. First time out without full gloves and headband over ears, but kept the toe warmers on just in case. As a reward, we stopped at mile 32 for Mini Blizzards at the local DQ. We sat outside and enjoyed them in the sun.

Raining again today, but yesterday was perfect!

On Friday I rode to town for breakfast and then took the longer 'scenic' route back- only about 3 miles but it was FUN!

Mimi- you and D. look terrific!

Finally yesterday we had picture perfect weather. Sun, temps reached the into the 70's during the ride. It was our bike shop clubs 1st Anniversay ride and despite the holiday at least 20 riders showed up. Since the shop was closed all the workers got to go for a longer ride as they did not have to get back quickly to work. 34 miles with plenty of climbing.

An added plus, I gave up cooking for the holidays as of last year as I hosted 3of the major holidays and fed 17-20 people for 25 yrs. It amazes me how I fed all these people and no one picked it up. Well my darling daughter who still lives at home wanted to cook, so the reigns of the kitchen was hers which made the ride even more enjoyable :)

Today, the sun is trying hard to come out with the threat of rain later. I am hoping for nothing but sunshine in May. Our flowers have had plenty of April showers this year.

Saturday was raw, chilly and blustery, but I had a test ride scheduled so I went out and did an estimated 20 miles or so on a Specialized Roubaix. Yesterday was gorgeous - got up to 60! - and DP and I had tix to the Twins' baseball game so we road our hybrids there - about 9 miles - and then she took the bus back to take care of the pets before heading over to her family's for Easter dinner. Using mostly the trail system, I rode my bike over to her family's after the game for total mileage yesterday of 22. It was a fantastic day!

Easter Sunday I had a short bike ride with my Godson on a bike path that winds through their subdivision. We had fun after dinner spending some one on one time together doing something we both enjoy, I forgot how much fun it is to go riding with a kid.

I was able to get in another century this weekend, which was a great one. It climbed up chandler mountain in Alabama. It was a small one in an inaugural year, but on a gorgeous course and well supported. Time to taper for my big race now! My husband (in the picture) had a great--and very fast ride--and I felt strong throughout!

I read that these three climbs in the foothills were tough climbs, so naturally I had to do them:D They are all in the Newcastle/Auburn area in Placer County, CA. As usual I recorded video of all the good climbs, so here they are.

Garmin Connect data for the entire ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/81350751

Ridge Road. This was the "easy" one compared to the next two. Maximum grade was only 11% near the top, and I accidentally caught up to a couple of women who had started the climb before me. The conversation with them is in the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyKjhQc9Qbk

Chili Hill Road. This was steep and painful! Maximum grade was 17%. At the top I saw a cyclist taking pictures of his son who was climbing the hill. I mentioned that I recorded my climb and he liked that:) When his son got to the top of the hill he saw my camera setup and was very interested as he also wants to start recording his rides. He also loves watching cycling videos. I told him I would be uploading all the good climbs to YouTube later on that evening. His father said he is trying to get his son into cycling. I told him his son has a climber's build and he agreed. He said his son had the Andy Schleck look:D

When I got ready to upload the videos I noticed I had a new subscriber to my YouTube channel. When I uploaded the first video it immediately got a view and a thumbs-up. It was the kid on the hill.

I think his father will have no problem getting him interested in cycling;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnT0vfuP3iY

Glenview Road. This was also steep and painful, and was the next to last climb in the ride. Maximum grade was 19%

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22q2zixhX18

Here's a picture from the top of Glenview Road. I rode my Specialized Sirrus hybrid with road wheels and tires:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/...4221700afb.jpg
Specialized Sirrus at top of Glenview Road climb by kittyz202, on Flickr

luv2climb, looks like you have beautiful roads to ride on. I was getting tired half way up with you, looking for the top

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ladyicon

luv2climb, looks like you have beautiful roads to ride on. I was getting tired half way up with you, looking for the top

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Thanks:D I love going up there and getting away from all the typical urban BS.

I didn't know where the top was until it was in sight on these climbs, since it was my first time riding these hills. That made things interesting;)