My ride today and upcoming metric on Sunday

I decided to go to the group ride today, even though it started a little bit out of my area and I am on time schedule. The start was only about 12-13 miles away and although the beginning wasn't in really pretty places, the midpoint was (a state park). It was also mostly flat, except for one hill, or what I'd call a hill.
As soon as I got to the meeting place, I knew this was a bad idea. We were late leaving, by 15 minutes and there was a huge group, of at least 40 people. We did not split into fast and slow groups. My strategy with these people is to stick to the front, but not right up behind the leader, so I don't have to be a human arrow, wich is what they use to indicate turns (the person stands there until the sweep passes). I don't mind doing this when I am in a spot that I know my way around, but this was not the case today. It turned out that I could pretty much stay at the back of the faster riders, and often caught them on the climbs. So the first rest stop was at 12 miles of a 37 mile ride. We waited and waited, all used the portapotties, and then found out there were 2 people with flats we were waiting on. So, I headed back with one other man and woman, who had planned on riding less, as I was never going to get back in time to see my client. The guy is about 75, a strong rider, but he had a bad crash about 1.5 years ago and doesn't ride as far. He is also the person who caused my last crash, when he was leading and just slowed for no reason (this was in 2007). But, he's very safety conscious now. The woman is also a strong rider, but had just retured from 12 days of cycling in Ireland and was beat. The way back was torturous; we had to wait for her, she was really slow. I had no idea how to get back to my car, so I had to deal with it. Now I realize I'm a bit sunburned on my arms, despite putting on a ton of sunblock.
I rushed home, showered and called my client and said I would be a half hour late. Then I realized I hadn't had coffee, only green tea and I found myself extremely groggy as I was driving to her house. She gave me rescue coffee! I actually rode 25 miles, the first 12 quite speedily and the rest, who knows.
So, we got the cue sheet for our metric on Sunday. Oy, it includes every steep local climb they could find, including ones that a lot of people don't know about. The scary thing is that I know them all! It suggests starting at 7 AM if you plan to do the ride at a 13-14 mph average, which will be me, with this elevation. I won't be killing myself. The good thing is, we can always take an alternate way out of all of these climbs, as the route goes from Lincoln, MA to Bolton and Harvard and back, through all of our familiar territory. Lunch starts at noon and I will be back for that, with no issue.
Glad I have my mountain gearing for this ride.

Sounds like an adventure. Have fun on Saturday!

Thankfully, the ride is Sunday, as we have a tropical storm coming through here Friday night and Saturday morning :eek:.

Eeek! Hope there isn't too much debris from the storm. Good luck!

I hope so, too, but there's a 24 hr window for them to clean up. And, as I said, since it's all local roads, there's always an alternative.

That's good. Sounds like it shouldn't be too much of a problem then. (Knock on wood)

I just looked at the cue sheet for tomorrow's metric. :eek::eek::eek:.
A few of the climbs are in the opposite direction that I usually do them, so at least I'll have a change of scenery?
Over 4,000 feet of climbing. This ride never gets more than 22 miles from my house. No wonder hills don't scare me.

Well, the metric is done and I am home recovering with coffee.
This was a smaller type charity ride, for an organization that teaches cycling skills to kids in order to prevent childhood obesity. It started at a museum about 8 miles from my house. There also were 36 and 19 mile rides. The morning didn't start off so well, though. I set out everything last night, except my shoes, which I grabbed this morning. We arrived there at 6:45, hoping for a 7 AM start, but when I went to clip in, well, I took my shoes for my other bike, which has different pedals. I was furious at myself, but no one had really left to start, so we drove home and got my shoes and we were off at 7:45.
It's a gorgeous, classic New England summer day. No humidity, sunny, with a light breeze. I prepared well with my eating/resting, some of it because I have been feeling off all week and I realized Friday that I have some kind of sinus thing/viral thing. I rode 25 miles Wednesday, skipped boot camp Thursday, and took a walk on Friday. I rested yesterday and made delicious fresh pasta for dinner last night, a real treat. Woke up at 5:15, not feeling so hot, but pushed the thoughts out of my mind. Ate eggs, lox, spelt toast with cream cheese, and blueberries. Limited my coffee to one cup, and drank about 16 oz. of water, too.
So, the climbing started at mile 13, with lovely Woobly Rd. in Hudson/Bolton. It's right behind the school I used to teach at, and I have only been up it once. Not that long, but probably a good 18% in 2 spots. That's followed by Long Hill Rd., need I say more? We meandered over to Old Bay Rd., on roads which always do in the opposite direction. Old Bay is the spot I always describe as feeling like I'm in Vermont, except this time we approached from the other end. The hill here is shorter, but it bothered me a lot more. I started feeling like I was having some asthma issues, but I think it may have been a panic attack, because it stopped by just deep breathing. Not sure why, but I've been getting anxious during rides lately. Anyway, after that we rode up and down, until we got to Prospect Hill Rd, where the picture is taken. It's in Harvard, and I believe I have posted other pics from this spot. A guy got behind me on a long, moderate uphill, not shaded, and it pissed me off. I hate it when others get on your wheel without asking. It caused me to sprint! This is why we stopped to take the picture, to get him off of my azz.
We rode into Harvard center, where there was a rest stop. Refilled my bottle, ate and off we went. There were 3 more sort of awful hills after that, but all are in very familiar territory. The next rest stop was at the Acton train station. Didn't dawdle there, too long, either. There were about 15 miles left and I was getting tired. Not any real hills left, but the ones that were there, sort of neighborhood hills, kicked me in the rear. We had picked up the pace a bit on the flats, because I wanted to get back. I do admit that I complained a little in the last 3 miles, but I've forgotten the pain already.
So, I rode 64 miles in 4 hours, 56 minutes, average of 13, with 4,200 feet of climbing. I was exactly on target for what I wanted to do. My strategy is to enjoy myself and I did as much as one can on a ride of this type. The majority of the participants did the shorter rides, so the people on the metric were more racer types. I let them pass with happiness, but a few had slowed to my pace at the end. We enjoyed the lunch and beer!
My back was fine, no sunburn today, and I hope my head is unstuffed tomorrow.Not sure about boot camp at 5:30 AM, though.

Wow! That's awesome :) Congrats. It sounds like a tough ride but you did a great job. That must feel pretty awesome!

Congrats on the ride. Love the pics!

Looked like a great day for a great bike ride, Crankin. Have a...glass of wine to celebrate. :rolleyes:

4000feet elevation change! Great Job!!!!

I was exhausted for an entire week after my Century at 2500 feet elevation change. You are amazing!

Great job, Crankin! Glad you had a good ride and accomplished what you wanted to. Sounds like a tough'un!

You have my permission (and probably the permission of all of TE) to take it easy tomorrow. You've earned a day of rest! :D

I felt fine when I woke up, so I did go to boot camp. The only thing that bothered me was high legs skipping across the parking lot. I just could not lift my legs too high up!
And, the fact that the seam on my running capris started attacking a very, ah, sensitive area, which was OK when I got up, after liberally applying tea tree oil last night, but started really driving me nuts. I couldn't get home fast enough to change out of those things.
Rest day tomorrow.

Nice jersey. :D Congrats on the ride.

Veronica

I've been offline for a few days and just read through this - congrats on a good job! Love the jersey AND your recovery drink :)

Looks like a beautiful day for a ride and some great scenery!