March 22nd Rides

[Crankin]

Well, today i went out for my first solo ride of the season. Deb W. wanted to come, but she was busy. It kind of sucked, since it was WINDY and i felt like I was riding into it the whole time . I did the same ride as my last ride, and my time was 3 minutes slower. I guess it was the wind. My legs felt dead and I used my granny gear going up a little moderate hill, so i wouldn't die on the real climb at the end.
I never know how to dress with temps in the low fifties. I wore shorts with my new Sheila Moon knee warmers with the fleece/wool. I debated about them, since I also bought regular ones from her, but i figured it might be my last chance to try them out. I was definitely toasty, but not overheated on my legs. I also had on a regular ls jersey (not wool) and my wind jacket and toe covers on my shoes, with light weight wool socks. The toe covers were more for keeping my shoes dry because the snow is melting like crazy. I was freezing on the top in the beginning (about 3 miles) and then i had to unzip my shirt. I had debated wearing a short sleeved shirt undr my jacket, but I can't stand the thought of being cold at the beginning....
Well, I lead my first ride of the season Saturday. Hopefully I can pretend I am not struggling in front of everyone! I think I will lead the first half and sweep the second half, so i can be behind the slow people on the mile climb.

[HillSlugger]

My work is moving to a new building so we were under orders to log out by 2pm and then go home. I took this as an opportunity for a bike ride!

The sun was out and the temperature was pushing 70. Unfortunately, it was windy and I always seemed to be heading into it. Still, I was able to push 11.65 miles at 16.27 mph. Not too bad.

Since we're also under orders to stay home tomorrow it looks like I get to do another ride! Yeah!

[Starfish]

Today it was about 55 degrees and all overcast. It was definitely a day for my PI amfib tights with windstopper all down the fronts. I lOVE them, and they're what I wear unless it gets above about 65, or 60 and really sunny.

I live in the middle of a hill. Always hard to warm up well enough, or cool down well enough. The hill is either at the start or end of the ride. Today, for the first time, I just did intervals with hill repeats by just going around a few blocks a number of times. The hill is short, but it hits 13%, and I did it 5 times, so I am pleased with that.

Now I will be less intimidated by riding in my own back yard, instead of driving my bike somewhere else.

[HillSlugger]

Today it was about 55 degrees and all overcast. It was definitely a day for my PI amfib tights with windstopper all down the fronts. I lOVE them, and they're what I wear unless it gets above about 65, or 60 and really sunny.

I love my Amfibs, too, but I start to overheat in them if the temps go much above 50. I use them for my cold weather riding.

[SheFly]

Like Robyn, after a week of returning to the basement to ride, I had to get outside in yesterday's warm (ok, only low 50s, but warm for us) temps. It felt really good just to be outside, pedaling, and GOING SOMEWHERE!

Robyn also mentioned that the roads were wet. Well, it was more like riding through torrential streams riding on the roads here - all the snow from last Friday is melting (YAY!). Although we all had fenders on the bikes, I still looked pretty grungy after 36 miles... Can't wait to go out and do it again today!

SheFly

Note: those are NOT freckles on my face...

[limewave]

Like Robyn, after a week of returning to the basement to ride, I had to get outside in yesterday's warm (ok, only low 50s, but warm for us) temps. It felt really good just to be outside, pedaling, and GOING SOMEWHERE!

Robyn also mentioned that the roads were wet. Well, it was more like riding through torrential streams riding on the roads here - all the snow from last Friday is melting (YAY!). Although we all had fenders on the bikes, I still looked pretty grungy after 36 miles... Can't wait to go out and do it again today!

SheFly

Note: those are NOT freckles on my face...

Wow, looks like you ate some mud! That can be fun though.

I had my second group ride yesterday. After checking out everyone in the group, I decided to try riding with the A's. I knew I was stronger than everyone going in the B's, I also knew I would get dropped by the A's about halfway--but I really wanted to push myself and besides, the B's would be there to pick me up. Well, a bossy guy that I haven't ridden with since I was pregnant literally held me back and said that I had to ride in his group I started to protest, but it was too late, the A's had already left.

Just as my group was about to leave, a new guy shows up and announces that it's his first group ride ever. Bossy guy tells him to "Stay in the back and stay out of the way." And then we leave. He gives new guy no more instruction! I never saw new guy again after we left the parking lot. I couldn't sleep last night because I had guilt issues.

So I rode with the B's. It was a nice ride but it didn't challenge me at all. About halfway in we picked up a few guys that had been dropped from the A group. I started riding with them and we got ahead of the B's. Mr. Bossy comes riding up and tells us we need to reign it in. I can understand where he was coming from, but there were 9 people left in the B's--plenty of people for a pace line. We hit another climb and we got ahead of the B's again. This time we ignored Bossy and rode it in by ourselves.

I ended up with 19.5 average--not too bad!

[SouthernBelle]

Well, just to make you all jealous, I headed out for my ride about 5:00 p.m. in shorts and a sleeveless jersey. It was in the 70s. I realized I need to adjust my shifting patterns as I've been working hard but still shift like I did 2 months ago, so I'm not accounting for my improvement. Also working on relaxing my shoulders.

Good ride.

[Crankin]

SheFly, I had a fender on my bike, too, but somehow I didn't end up looking like you. I was by myself, so I had no spray from my husband going in my face. I found myself going out into the middle of the road on Monument St. to avoid big puddles. Thankfully, I was going in the opposite direction of the rush hour traffic. My feet were pretty wet; I had to hang up my toe covers on the coat rack to dry out.
Almost 60 degrees today!!!

[SheFly]

SheFly, I had a fender on my bike, too, but somehow I didn't end up looking like you. I was by myself, so I had no spray from my husband going in my face. I found myself going out into the middle of the road on Monument St. to avoid big puddles. Thankfully, I was going in the opposite direction of the rush hour traffic. My feet were pretty wet; I had to hang up my toe covers on the coat rack to dry out.
Almost 60 degrees today!!!

I was with DH and a friend who are both faster/stronger than me, so at times, it felt as if I were drowning . Rte 225 was mostly a river in all directions, and Monument was the same. Couldn't get away from the water!

I wore neoprene socks inside my shoes, with toe covers. Thankfully, feet stayed toasty. Looks gorgeous out there today, so I am up for another go this afternoon...

SheFly

[bmccasland]

Had my bike out too for the first spring ride - was a beautiful breezy spring day, high around 77F (25C). Only two of us from the office, the other guy used to be a racer, but now has quite the beer belly, or he's going to give birth . Anyway, he kept grumbling how out-of-shape he was, and I did all the pulling for the 20 mile ride. Wanted to knock him up-side the head and tell him to quit grumbling and RIDE. If he spent the energy on his pedals instead of his mouth he might be able to keep up more.

OK, I'll stop my rant.

I had a happy ride, it's spring, the birds are singing, weather is perfect. And best of all, my lungs kept up.

[Trekhawk]

I had a lovely ride in the countryside everything is so green after the little bit of rain we had last week. I was cruising along enjoying myself when a very large Bush Turkey right by the side of the road decided to announce himself with a very loud gobble just as I was riding past. Scared the beejeepers out of me. I did an out an back and sure enough there he was again gobbling just as loudly - this time however I didn't jump a mile off my bike seat with shock.

[Starfish]

I love my Amfibs, too, but I start to overheat in them if the temps go much above 50. I use them for my cold weather riding.

I consider 60 cold!