Fourth of July rides, anyone?

I'm sure I can't be the only one here who took a ride today. We've never seen so many cyclists of every ilk, kids, adults young and old, even a recumbent trike, out riding here (KC area) as we did today. DH and I did 28 miles, about half of which was on a very nice, long MUT, but unlike our usual mid-week rides, we really had to stay on our toes today with all the other riders (and walkers/runners) out. It was nice and cool and very shady along most of the trail, so provided a wonderful environment for a more casual "fun" ride.

I had no idea how much I'd enjoy riding a full-suspension mountain bike on pavement. A lot of the pavement is cracked and rutted, so the suspension and fat tires really smooth things out versus riding my road bike. I have the rear shock tuned to be rather stiff, so I'm not bobbing and don't even sense it's there; just that the ride is super comfortable. (I'm loving the Jamis, Catrin, if you're reading this! :p)

We finally reached a good turnaround point here. We didn't have much choice in the matter! :D

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Hope everyone in the US has a great fourth!

DH and I did one of our usual loops and were out just shy of three hours (neither of us uses a bike computer anymore). Minus the humidity, it was a nice day for a ride, with mild temps and little wind. I've been pleased with my riding of late. We sprint on certain sections, and I'm getting stronger again bit by bit (and beating my husband, although that's not my goal). While I'm not doing the mileage I used to do, I'm really pleased with my overall fitness right now! Mixing it up is paying off I think.

We were hoping to finally hit the trails this weekend, but the wet weather is mucking that up. :(

Glad you're liking your new bike, Emily!

My friend and I started out on our usual "Sunday morning urban tour" - a trip we wouldn't normally do midweek because of the traffic. We got to the end of my street and he realized he had a bad tire, so we rode to his house and got a different bike (funny - I didn't realize until later that I didn't even flinch when he said he wanted to go get a different bike. It's understood that there is always another bike around :)) Then we just rode off in a different direction for an hour or so. It seemed very humid, but cloudy with a light breeze.

Then this afternoon I put together my new Bike Friday and rode up and down the street once or twice :D

Not today, unfortunately. It's been raining all day and I wasn't sure I'd be home to get a shower before I had to go in to work. I'm definitely getting a ride in tomorrow...and I'll be taking the cross bike!

It's so hot here, and there's no end in sight. Usually, this type of weather lasts about 3 days here, but as far as I can see, it will be like this through next week. So, I did ride today, but no 50 mile ride, like I thought I would do. It's my first time out in 2 weeks, and today was the first day I woke up feeling pretty good, after my sinus infection, and various other things that happen when I get sick. We went out at 9:30 and did 20.5 miles, just around Concord and Carlisle, sticking to the shadiest routes. Like Emily, we saw tons of riders of all kinds. The PMC training is coming to a frenzy, with the ride in a couple of weeks. I will be glad when they are done because every August, the roads around here get quieter. And like Indy, I am not doing as much riding, but I am happy with my fitness level, thanks to boot camp.
I really don't know how those of you who live in 90+ degrees and humidity ride in these temperatures. I will acclimate, but I am going out at 6 AM tomorrow.
Picture on the way home... we hadn't seen the cows in awhile and now they are back.

37 miles, 84 degrees , and 75% humidity. yuck!Attachment 16437

Did my usual 10 mile ride. I too saw alot more traffic on my bike trail.

Rode 25 miles with dh today, out to a park by the bay. I'm at the tail end of a cold, but I had been looking forward to the opportunity to ride with him, so I would have needed to be running a triple digit temperature for me to bug out.

However, I think I'm paying for it tonight. No fireworks for me. Oh well - I enjoyed the ride!

Only 16 miles today, but it was the first time out for my partner who had two toes amputated down to the first "knuckle" two weeks ago.

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Originally Posted by TrekDianna

Only 16 miles today, but it was the first time out for my partner who had two toes amputated down to the first "knuckle" two weeks ago.

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Sounds like a great first ride back! Does she ride clipless?

Our holiday was Monday, but I snuck out on Wednesday anyway (ok, not the fourth). Hot, humid, hilly and 76km.

First day off in a while (back to work today 5th). I got up at 5:00 am and was on the bike by 6:15 so I could spend most of the day with my DH. 45 mile training run after changing road shoes (AGAIN!!) on Tuesday. I thought I was going to freeze my first 15 mile loop (not that I am complaining) and the rest was great. TONS of cycling traffic and walkers on our river trail system yesterday. I decided the road was safer for the last 15. Had a great time.

It's been so hot here lately (and on top of that I've come down with an annoying hacking cough) that I haven't been riding lately. For the 4th, we just rode 2 miles to the local park for the fireworks show. I just love beating all the traffic after an event like that! On the way home we were followed for quite a while by 2 kids, also on bikes, one of whom was overheard by DH as saying "follow them, they have lights!"

No riding yesterday, had a great group gym workout instead. TODAY, however, I went riding :) It was a beautiful cool ride and I was riding with someone who just bought her first bike and is preparing for a Tri in August. It was a great hour's ride!

I went out at 6:15 AM today and did my usual before work route, except I didn't have to go to work. I skipped the other climb in town and just enjoyed the cooler temperatures of 75 or so, despite the 92% humidity :eek:. When I came home I was sort of lolling around and at 7:30, realized I had a haircut appointment at 9:00, so I kind of had to rush to get myself out of the door.
I only rode 12.5 miles, but it was fine. Not many people out on this sort of holiday, early in the morning. A dumb azz guy on a tri bike passed me on the right as I was in the lane, turning left, at a 4 way stop. He actually turned left, too, on my right. This is a busy intersection and I was kind of amazed he couldn't wait the 2 seconds it took me to figure out if the car coming in the other direction was going to go or let me go.

did about 43 miles. It was hotter, but the humidity was less.Attachment 16439
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Originally Posted by thekarens

Sounds like a great first ride back! Does she ride clipless?

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No, and won't. She has hardly any feeling in her feet and that would be a disaster

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Originally Posted by TrekDianna

No, and won't. She has hardly any feeling in her feet and that would be a disaster

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Gotcha, it's great that's she's still able to ride.

Did another 20 miles, this time in the heat of the day. Well, it was only 89 when we started, and partly cloudy, 91 at the end. We were going slowly up Strawberry Hill Rd to start, and 2 guys passed us. We pretty much followed them for about 12 miles... basically did the route we did Thursday, in the reverse direction, with a couple of changes. The second part of this ride was not as shady, so we did stop and rest for 5 minutes at Ferns, where I poured water down my bra and over my head. Thankfully, it started clouding up when we headed back after the stop and we picked up the pace. I poured the rest of my water over my head as I headed up my street, at the base of the climb and drained my Accelerade.
This was one of those days where I was still sweating when i go out of the shower!
So, I rode about 75 miles over the holiday, which considering a few years ago I would not have ridden in these temperatures, is OK

While shortened by neck pain, I rode for the second time this weekend! It was a lovely 35 minute ride and I saw 2 deer on my ride. All rides are good, that is my new mantra :)

We did 54 on Saturday. Started at 6:30 to avoid the heat. Started out good, but bonked right around mile 49. Managed to finished, but it was ugly.

On this same ride we were chased by a pitbull and my pedal attacked the back of my leg and gave me a goose egg.

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Originally Posted by thekarens

We did 54 on Saturday. Started at 6:30 to avoid the heat. Started out good, but bonked right around mile 49. Managed to finished, but it was ugly.

On this same ride we were chased by a pitbull and my pedal attacked the back of my leg and gave me a goose egg.

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No pitbulls but totally understand the "goose egg" since I have new pedals and I am not used to clipping into them yet. I am working hard to not bonk while at the Katy Flatland (yes I signed up for the 68). Hoping for cool temperatures, but planning for the hot ones.

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Originally Posted by lgibster

No pitbulls but totally understand the "goose egg" since I have new pedals and I am not used to clipping into them yet. I am working hard to not bonk while at the Katy Flatland (yes I signed up for the 68). Hoping for cool temperatures, but planning for the hot ones.

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I'm sure you'll do great! I'll be at the corner after the buzzards gate. I'll watch for you and cheer you on! :-)

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Originally Posted by thekarens

I'm sure you'll do great! I'll be at the corner after the buzzards gate. I'll watch for you and cheer you on! :-)

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I am sure by then I will need a little cheering on. Thanks and hope to get to meet you.