Printable View
I headed out today for a ride, but called it quits after 35 minutes and came home for another 40 minutes on the trainer. For some reason my asthma was troubling me...I didn't think I needed my balaclava for 41 degree temps, apparently I do :o
Still, it felt good on the bike, but even with my indoor work I can tell I've lost bike endurance...no matter, spring is coming :)
First outdoor ride this year! 34.4 miles. Apparently the indoor training has been improving my speed (no computer right now, but I was done in about 2.5 hours and that included a pee break and some very long waits at intersections), but not so much endurance. I actually ate a large breakfast and still wasn't sure I'd get home toward the end.
Today I took my first real group ride with The Hammerin' Wheels Road Bike Club. This was a 28 mile ride with a couple of short climbs and descents, but nothing real grueling. It was billed as a ride for "intermediate beginner+" riders. Why did I ride a beginner ride when I'm not technically a beginner, you ask? Well, all their intermediate to advanced rides have average speeds that I know I can't maintain, so I was waiting for a ride that I knew I could keep up on for the entire ride.
I met BikeForums member sinclac. He was wearing the red Bike Forums 50+ jersey you see in the video, and was also one of the ride leaders.
On this ride I rode with the leaders for the entire ride. It started in Roseville and wound through Rocklin and Lincoln before returning to Roseville. The two climbs were on Twelve Bridges Drive in Lincoln. I don't think the grades got much over 7%. I did my usual push hard on the climbs and live up to my username thing. :D
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/150650990
I apologize for the bounciness in the video. I adjusted the straps upward on the GoPro chest strap mount, but it made the problem worse instead of better. :mad:
Video is of the two climbs and descents. The rest of the ride was full of loud traffic and flat ground or slight inclines, so I figured it wasn't as interesting.
Video is 100% natural sound. This means heavy breathing on the climbs, so be forewarned!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAp7PqiUtPQ
I rode outside yesterday; first outdoor ride in February this year. There have been quite a few good riding days this month, but, unfortunately, I've been at work or I wimped out and went on a hike or rode the trainer/went to the gym.
We did a loop around Great Brook Farm, 21 miles. I am still getting used to my Guru, but I think the issue with the Frogs is solved. I just have to keep my feet/heels turned a little more inward; I also have been able to hear a little click when I put the left foot in, which has been the problematic one. I was wearing my regular mtb shoes with booties, not my winter cycling boots, and I think that also helped. Also raised the saddle a little less than a cm.
It was really nice out, about 42-49 during our ride, but very windy. One of those days where you feel like you are riding into a headwind no matter what direction you are going.
We are meeting son and DIL for brunch at 1:00 today. I probably will venture out around 10:30 for a short ride, even though it will be around 36. Back to the winter shoes and gloves.
It has been rainy here so I've hardly ridden in a week. Yesterday the sun finally came out but the wind was vicious. In the open areas I could hardly keep upright with the gusty winds. Fortunately, the neighboring state park is sheltered so the wind was livable there. I did 20 minutes of "intervals lite" (at 90% effort, on a minute, off a minute) and came back home. All told, on the bike for all of a half an hour. Today should be less windy and no rain in the forecast for the foreseeable future. I am scheduled to ride with some of the old guys in the rv parks Monday and Tuesday so I won't do a real long ride today.
I did my lbs ride yesterday. They picked an easier route since I told them I wasn't up to climbing just yet. They also rode slowly, but I still couldn't keep pace. I had a nice guy stick with me, and we rode my speed, no pressure to go fast, but I still made a futile attempt. The rest of the guys stopped and waited a few times, but I still kept getting dropped. It was a little windy and in the 40s, a pretty beautiful day. 30 miles.
I need to figure out a game plan for next week, if I want to give it another go. I'm thinking of asking for one of the regulars to stay with me, so everyone doesn't feel the need to stop and wait for me, and someone doesn't end up in the babysitter role by default.
Road out yesterday, 23 mile ride in memory of a cyclist who was killed. :(
Today, another quick 20 mile ride with a friend, neither of us who has time to ride, but we're putting one in so take advantage of the weekend. Tomorrow I could ride, but I need to figure out if I want to -- I have a family visiting and with my group, it's half a day between the ride and the socializing.
I hear you Catrin- I've been in allergy hell for over a week. Don't know what triggered it, but I was unable to breathe through my nose for a week and I'm still partially congested. Had to use a nasal spray for a few nights so I could sleep.
Gypsy :(.
So I went on my first ride in almost a week on Friday, commuting to work. And yesterday I rode in the Santa Monica mountains. The air was so clean and crisp, as we had some rain earlier in the week. So sunny, with a nice cool breeze. Kept thinking, this is why people move here. People are dealing with winter back east, and I am riding around the local mountains in shorts and short sleeves. :D. It's supposed to rain today but I doubt it.
I got out for the first time in nearly 4 weeks yesterday. I could definitely tell I lost some bike fitness. I only got 17 miles in. It was chilly or maybe I am wimpy but it was in the low 40's and my ears, face and toes were a little chilly. It was nice to reunite with my bike though!
got out for about 20 miles on the Mohawk Hudson. Allergens punished me for doing that.
Cohoes, NY
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...0/100_0587.jpg
Turn around at Niskayuna Depot:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...0/100_0590.jpg
Ice on the Mohawk:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S...0/100_0591.jpg
and on the trail:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s...0/100_0592.jpg
still mid winter
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y...0/100_0593.jpg
Rode the Saturday morning club ride. We had a timed hill climb in the middle. My average was fast for me, but I can't come anywhere near to keeping up with this club. They were doing at least 20 on some of the hills!!
DH and I are going to do some kind of ride today, we haven't decided what yet.
I rode 43 miles yesterday, mostly solo, though I shared my national park card with some visiting cyclists from New York at Saguaro NP. They dropped me on the big hill, but that's okay- I'm used to it;) I ventured on to enjoy some of the roads on Tucson's far east side, including one of the steeper hills in the area, to the end of the pavement on Reddington Pass road. I thought of you , luv2climb) - gets over 12% but only half a mile long. It was my first ride since last Sunday's century, and today is supposed to be windy so I probably will stay home. I have 4 days off next week and the weather should be pretty nice.
Just came back from a short (11 mile) ride before going to brunch in Boston. It's gorgeous out; sunny and clear, about 35 when I started and 39 at the end. Wore my AmFib gloves for the first time and didn't kill myself shifting :). Felt a little stronger with the gearing on my Guru, the jury is still out if I am going to get the cassette with the 16... lose my lowest gear.
The thermometer on the porch said 40* but my bike computer said 35* - I’m believing the bike computer – it was chilly! And I never did quite warm up. But, it was nice and sunny and there was hardly any traffic on the roads. I think I did about 20 miles (the computer is not registering mph or miles for some reason).
The photo shows the difference in how the roads are cared for between Pepperell and Dunstable. I much prefer riding in Dunstable.:)
First ride outside of the year! Actually, first outside ride ever in February in MN. Unfortunately I had a flat the first 5 minutes into the ride - luckily it was the front instead of the rear, for a change, but that cut into my planned time for a more ambitious loop so I just rode to the river and back. 19 miles. Nice to be off the trainer for a change!:)
Aw I lived in Schenectady for four years... I miss the Mohawk (was a Geology student while I was there-- lots of time spent at Vischer Ferry and other lovely places around there).Quote:
Originally Posted by Fredwina
I had Friday off so I got a 40 mile ride in. I rode easily out to one of the parks in St. Louis the long way (10 miles or so) and then met up with four of the kids on my cycling team. All my trainer time has really paid off-- we did 30 minutes of low-intensity riding, then 30 minutes of medium-high intensity riding and I'm SOOOOO pleased to discover that I can keep up with the 17 year old boys! In fact we dropped Mason, one of the girls on the team. This is a good thing-- I was worried that as a coach I'd be constantly getting dropped by the boys. Then I rode him real easy 7 miles or so.
I decided to wear my tri shorts for some reason-- they'd always been comfortable before, but for the first time ever I was getting saddle sore on one side. This was only about 35 miles into my riding though. It's weird-- apparently I rode a saddle that was narrower than my sit bones for 5 years and not a once got chafing or a saddle sore. I did tend to squash on my tailbone and soft tissues though. Now I'm sitting directly on my sit bones, but saddle sore! Grrr. The Arione Donna is a good saddle for crit racing, but I'm thinking it's going to have to be a Brooks for my x-country bike trip this summer.
Nippy but sunny with a decent wind off the lake, here in Chicagoland. Got in 33 miles on Saturday, and 38 miles today. Today was my maiden ride on my new custom Ti Seven Axiom SL with Ui2 electronic shifting! :D It was a very smooth ride. The Ti really soaks up the road "clatter" that I was used to hearing/feeling on my full carbon Cannondale. So far, I'm loving the Ui2...just need to learn how to get a good feel for it when wearing my thicker cold-weather gloves. I can hardly wait for the warmer temps, so I can shed my thick gloves for my fingerless ones to really get comfortable with the electronic shifting.
Linda
Oooh! Pictures?Quote:
Originally Posted by nscrbug
I didn't expect to ride today- the forecast was for very a windy day, but the morning was calmer than expected. By the time I convinced my DH to go with me the wind was rising, but we drove up to Saguaro NP and did the 8 mile loop and out to the picnic ground.
Here's yesterday's ride. No crashes this time, but plenty of climbing to make me live up to my username! :D
This is the South Fork American River Trail (SFART). The trailhead is right across the road from the Salmon Falls trailhead. It starts off with quite a bit of climbing on technical singletrack with tight switchbacks. Good stuff! :D
There's not nearly as much technical stuff as on Salmon Falls though. There's lots of smooth singletrack and doubletrack.
It ended up being almost a 24 mile round trip ride with 3,442' of climbing.
South Fork American River Trail by freighttraininguphill at Garmin Connect - Details
Here's the video. As always, this is 100% natural sound. This means plenty of heavy breathing on the climbs, so be forewarned!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfHQtzifblQ
Nice switchback where I waited for some climbing cyclists before descending.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7207/6...cf231978_z.jpg
switchback on SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr
Abandoned structures at the Cronan Ranch trailhead
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/6...74dcb198_z.jpg
abandoned buildings on SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6...fe143a65_z.jpg
abandoned buildings on SFART 2 by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7055/6...40180f09_z.jpg
abandoned house on SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr
I'm used to seeing "connector", like the trail near Auburn. There were several of these signs along the trail.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/6...687bf91d_z.jpg
'connecter trail' sign on SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr
View of the American River on the way back towards Salmon Falls Road
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7190/6...5c56e6cb_z.jpg
view of American River from SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr
A trail that definitely lived up to its name, and made me live up to my username! :D
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/6...d5ffdeff_z.jpg
'down and up trail' sign on SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr
It was abit chilly here as well, although got out for 30 miles. Temperature was 32 although the winds were blowing 30-35 MPH, needless to say, the ride back home was a bit tough. BUT, it's February and I'm not complaining, we generally are not riding outside this time of year here in Maine!!:p
http://chasecyclery.blogspot.com
I'm trying to get motivated to head out today, but rode both Saturday and Sunday on the road, for 43.5 and 40.5 miles. It was warmer on Saturday, but still nice out yesterday as well. Hoping to get out for another 40 or so today if my knee will hold up (whole other story - I took another digger while trail running yesterday, and my knee is cut, swollen and bruised - sigh).
SheFly
Decided against a road ride at the last minute, and ended up heading into the woods instead. I was totally enjoying being out in the woods, and came upon another solo MTB woman. We passed and said hello. Later, I came upon her again and we started chatting. I invited her to join me, and we ended up riding for another hour - a nice surprise! Glad I managed to drag myself out there after all - I may have just found another riding partner.
SheFly
First Metric Century of the year here. Had a bright and sunny day at 41 in the morning and up to 60 at the end. Oh...but the wind! Up to 30 mph. Big loop through blossoming almond orchards and into the rolling foothills. Team mate estimated 47 miles of headwind. Seems about right to me.
Okay so not exactly a "ride, ride" but new brewery grand opening about 5 miles from the house so off we went, cold, windy and spitting snow but took the MUP along the river. Of course as our other favorite brewery was in the neighborhood, we had to go there as well :) Heading home is was now dark, cold and windy, came around a corner and a huge tree had fallen across the bike path so we got to do some lifting and climbing. But as always, riding in the dark with the DH is always a pleasure and the beer wasn't too bad either.
Various factors have conspired to make this weekend a no-riding weekend. Yesterday was absurdly windy. Today, I'm doing the studying (finals in two weeks! Eek!) that I didn't do yesterday. Just as well, because while the forecast said mid-to-high 40s, it feels colder than that, and my hamstrings are whining about the yoga I did last night.
Otherwise, it looks like a nice day for a ride. Cloudless blue skies, not much wind...Grump.
I didn't ride this weekend, either. Yesterday, we had wind gusts up to 50 mph, and I didn't feel that well. I took a rare rest day on the weekend and it was wonderful. Today would have been fine for riding, but I am trying to keep everything moderate, in preparation for my 5 day trip to Vermont, which will include some pretty intense x country skiing and snow shoeing. Just came back from a 4 mile hike in Estabrook Woods, where we found a new climb on the back side of the old ski slope. It's really nice out and we have snow coming, especially more up north :).
I got a 27 mile ride in today. It was a glorious 60 degrees--in February--what a bonus! But with it came the southerly winds at 15-20 mph with 30 mph gusts. The first half was great with the wind to our backs but the return trip home was brutal. It still beats being in the trainer:D
What are you ladies riding in this winter weather? I am afraid to take my Synapse out and get salt on it, so I got my 1989 Trek Antelope fixed up. It is slow going and the cold air is hard on my lungs. Work is a long commute and by the time I get home it is getting dark. so I usually only go on the weekends.
It was rodeo weekend in Tucson so I had a 4 day weekend- absolutely gorgeous weather all weekend. I rode Weds after work, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday- for a total of 176 miles!
Wednesday afternoon- rode the 8 mile loop at Saguaro National Park.
Thursday, I did 28 miles up to Sabino Canyon and the foothills.
Friday, I rode with my husband (and a couple friends part of the way) up to Pistol Hill and down to Marsh Station road, east of Tucson. We made it a metric century.
Saturday- did a group right to Oracle Junction- 53 miles
Today- meant to be a recovery ride but I got a little more energetic and rode 23 back out to Saguaro National Park.
Just a mile below the entrance to Saguaro NP, I passed the house where the Kenda Five Hour Energy team is staying for training camp, and saw most of them pull out just ahead of me. Two of the guys passed me a few minutes later. I asked them where they were going, and it was out to Marsh Station Road, the same place I rode on Friday.
I'm not very fast, but I passed 1000 miles for the year today!
Wooot! My longest ride outside since my MTB fall, and the first time I've ridden without neck pain.
It was only 18 miles, but it felt awesome. I will take it! Tomorrow is said to be warmer :)
Friday was the first real MTB ride of the year with DH and a couple of friends from the bike shop. I was so pleased with my riding despite the fact that a) it's early in the season for me, b) our one friend is a much stronger rider, and c) I had to be a bad@ss and ride the singlespeed :D
Today's ride was errand-running with DH, including a trip to the warehouse club. I do the shopping and DH pulls the trailer- it's a perfect arrangement.
None today, since day 2 is generally bad in terms of cramps, and I really need to get some studying done, since my finals start Tuesday. Tomorrow, if I can get my butt moving early enough, I'll go for a ride, probably no more than 25 miles, because I need the stress relief!
I started about 7:45 and rode to meet up with my regular group. Sunny but cool with a pretty stiff headwind riding out to Tucson's far eastern edge, including the steep hill at the end of the paved road. Tailwinds for a while, then we headed south. I opted to go to Saguaro NP and ran into a friend there. She and her buddies are faster and dropped me- but that was fine. I took a very roundabout route home, via Starbucks and 2 bike shops, looking for a new pair of gloves to replace the ones that are tearing, Sunflower market and the French bakery. In a pinch , those reusable bags can function as a backpack if you slip your arms through the straps (no rack or panniers on the Ruby).
The DH is more than halfway through his 400k randonneuring adventure as of now.
Challenging team ride with my kids today-- we chased hills and the headwinds seemed to follow us wherever we turned.
There's this one climb called "hog's hollow" any road cyclist in St. Louis has probably heard of it. Ugh, I had to stop twice and nearly fell over at the top. I'm not sure what the grade is exactly, 12-13%? I was chugging along at like 4-5 mph though. Weee!! Hills!
I got the Ruby down and got her ready to go. Pump the tires- the rear needed about 20psi. The front was at 20psi. Strange, looks like a slow leak maybe, so I take off the wheel and start inspecting for anything stuck in the tire. Got about 1/2 way round and WTF?? Big slice at an angle- maybe .6" long from the start of the edge of the tread almost to the bead. Cut right through some sidewall cords and the tire was bulging there. I had only put these tires on a few months ago- Hutchinson Fusion 2s. And I don't have a spare tire. I wasn't too fond of them anyway but heck they weren't that old.
Well I've been saying that my next tires are going to be Continental 4000 25c tires but I wasn't planning on getting them soon. And the closest place with them in stock is a 20 minute drive down the freeway. So my bike ride turned into a truck drive down the freeway :(.
Nice tires; I have the Gatorskins on my Fuji beater bike and really like them so I hope these ride as well or better.
Guess I'll ride tomorrow and find out.
I'm getting ready for my first club ride of the season tomorrow. Pumping up the tires, finding the water bottles, checking on the bike rack, washing my bike clothes. I'm excited. This is a new club for me. They are starting a month early from my old club. I've been out for a couple of rides already but they were pretty short.
Went with DH out for a ride down the highway. He had his Trek Navigator and I had my Fargo. We only did about 5 miles but he made it up the hill just past the airport for the first time. I'm really proud of him as it took me at least two weeks to get up it.
The Trek Navigator probably isn't the best choice bike for doing a lot of miles, but for once he's comfortable and doesn't hurt while riding it. He had a great time. The right bike really makes a difference in how you see cycling. Hopefully he'll continue to come with me.
I also discovered whole grain bread with peanut butter and honey works for energy while cycling. Forget the cardboard bars. This works so much better and doesn't make me feel sick.
I didn't even panic when a farm tractor went around us. I wish I could say thank you to all the cars and semi trucks that went around us instead of blowing us over. It's nice to know people care about safety. There should be a universal sign for "thank you".
I have Conti Grand Prix 4000s and they are very nearly as tough as my old gator skins. They are great!Quote:
Originally Posted by tzvia
Really? My DH had those on for less than half a year when he had a huge sidewall issue requiring tire replacement. Wonder if we had a bad batch?Quote:
Originally Posted by Reesha