12/22 Rides

[OakLeaf]

I can't believe I blew off riding yesterday because the roads were wet, and went out today

I hadn't ridden with this Saturday group before and it's a bit of a drive to the meeting point. It was raining here when it's time to leave, just a light drizzle, but there's absolutely nothing on the radar. Besides, 20 miles away at the meeting point, it could be perfectly dry and sunny. I'm driving up the freeway, windshield wipers on, "It's going to burn off. It's going to burn off."

No such luck. Fine drizzle alternated with light but steady rain. The temperature (forecast to be a low of 61, climbing to 70ish by ride's end) seemed to be stuck at 57. All my tights and long sleeve jerseys are in Ohio, so I rolled on the arm-warmers, bought a new pair of knee warmers from the shop where the ride started, and rolled out with the small group who showed up.

For some strange reason as soon as we crossed the windy bridge, these year-round Floridians decided the weather was just too crummy to continue, and cut the ride short. I was actually feeling really good - first time on the bike since November 10, between family issues, weather and travel; and first time in the rain on purpose since about 1993.

Nobody else thought the weather was just fine though (and it wasn't so fine that I felt like riding alone in crazy Florida traffic!), so back across the bridge and south for a really quick loop. Of course my rear tire flatted halfway back, so I got even grittier and grimier than I already was (and so did the guy who helped me change it, not that I needed help but it made it go quicker).

Well, I'd been eyeing three or four pretty deep cuts in that tire anyway, even though it only had 1500 miles, so when we got back to the shop, I got a new tire (also a patch kit to fix the old tube) to go with my new knee warmers.

11.58 miles, $72.37

[makbike]

Oakleaf - 11.58 miles, $72.37 and the joy of riding - priceless!

I too joined the club for the weekly Saturday ride. It is in reality one of my least favorite rides simply because it is all urban so a lot of stop and go as we make our way through the city streets. However, if felt great to be out on my bike and I'm glad I made the journey into Louisville. It was a bit chilly and I was glad to return to my car at the end. In the end I logged 33.8 miles and averaged 15.33 mph(not bad for all the stop and go action).

[Fredwina]

I got in 30 miles so far. I'm having problems with my airline tickets for my flight to my family next week,and was more concentrating on that. I had fun, even though I was off the back. Got to see some snow on Mt Baldy. was surprised at the turnout, since it was in the 40's at the start.

[froglegs]

22 miles this morning. For some reason I just wasn't feeling good, not sick or anything, not overly stressed, got plenty of sleep, didn't drink a lot last night, but I just got tired easily today for some reason. But since the days are so short and I've been concentrating on running, I'm lucky to get in 1 bike ride per week, so it felt good to get out there.

[melissam]

A little over 31 and a half flat-as-a-pancake miles on an AIDS Lifecycle Training Ride. It was relatively cold out (in the 40's), and some of the folks said that they couldn't feel their toes.

Oakleaf, I think you did the right thing in replacing the tire. 1500 miles is pretty good -- one of my Vredesteins got a cut after a mere 10 miles. Up until that point, I had been thrilled with the tires. The thought of having to chuck it after 10 miles broke my heart, so I tried to patch it with Shoe Goo and a boot. Um, yeah, it worked out so well that I replaced the Vredesteins with a pair of Schwalbe Stelvios and have been very happy with them.

[ehirsch83]

no ride today:-(

The knee has been a little funky(knee cap not tracking right) and it bothered me tons yesterday(first time in ages I actually came home after only 45 minutes). Took a nice little stroll around the neighborhood for 45 minutes or so instead. Hopefully will be back on the bike tomorrow.

[RoadRaven]

5-up TT
I did at least a third of the work on the front of our team
We had a new cyclist in our team, and it was great to sit with her and explain how it all worked.
The race was 33, + my warmup gives me a total of 49kms at no extra cost - bad luck Oak

Very nice day for a ride in Aotearoa

[7rider]

About 10 miles of singletrack at Schaeffer Farms with the RLAG (Ride Like A Girl) crew from the Mid-Atlantic OffRoad Enthusiasts (MORE).
Nice, semi-casual pace. The various DH's of the riders went off bombing along at a high pace (my own was home, sick), and we followed at a more sedate pace, stopping every so often to work on jumping logs and such (not me...I'm such a wimp). They all knew each other...I was the "outsider" - but they were a great group to ride with.

[fastdogs]

went to visit parents in rolla today, took my bike as usual. It was in the 50s and nice. But my neice wanted to ride with me- she rode with me once and seem to have been hooked. So I waited most of the day. It started raining. I figured I needed to ride now or I wouldn't get to ride at all, so I set out on the two lane, no shoulder blacktop road to st. james. It rained the whole way, but sort of a light rain, and the temps were nice. There's not much traffic, and usually there's no problem, but for the first time today a car passed from behind, too close. I know it was intentional because the goofball in the backseat looked back and was laughing. Then a pickup came from the other direction and the driver yelled something at me. Don't know what he said, but it was an unfriendly tone. That's the first time anything like that has happened. But, I made it up the worst hill, all the way, no walking. Not fast, barely fast enough to stay upright, but I was pretty proud of myself. Total of ten miles, pretty good, for me.
And, I had my gps on my handlebar bag, and my cellphone in my pocket!
vickie

[jobob]

Rode my first metric century in ages!

I went over Palomares Road, headed up to Pleasanton then to Sunol, and over Calaveras Road and through Fremont & up Mission Blvd., ending at Mission Coffee where LeeBob graciously picked me up.

I'm still climbing awfully slow, and there was quite a bit of climbing - nothing particularly steep, but lots of long grades - so I eeked out 62.5 miles and 3750 ft of climbing at a rip-roarin' 11.5 mph. Can you say booyah?

It was pretty chilly but between my 2 layers of wool on top, the thin wool tights over my witches britches knickers, double layer of wool socks, earmuffs & gloves, I was doing fine, especially with all the climbing. I usually had to take my gloves off while climbing. I wore my yellow windstopper vest only for the last 15 miles or so, for the descent down Calaveras and the rest of the way to Mission Coffee.

The Calaveras bald eagle was perched at the tippety-top of his/her electrical tower, there was no missing it. Lovely sight.

I got tired on the rollers on Calaveras between the false summit & the Wall, but between the rest on the long descent into Milpitas and the even longer break I had changing my rear flat tire (happily well after the descent), I felt pretty good over the last 15 miles or so.

[TriMom217]

I did 25 solo miles trying to find a route to ride to work and back. Weird that the different route I took going home was almost exactly the same distance as both legs were quite a mix of back and out of the way roads.

Anyhow, the snowbanks on the sides of the road were melting and it was a pretty messy ride.

Planning a club ride tomorrow.

[MillieNZ]

5-up TT
I did at least a third of the work on the front of our team
We had a new cyclist in our team, and it was great to sit with her and explain how it all worked.
The race was 33, + my warmup gives me a total of 49kms at no extra cost - bad luck Oak

Very nice day for a ride in Aotearoa

hmmmmm. it was fabulous here this weekend........even with the Auckland wind

finally got back out with cycling group after my break............ great ride, but realised how out of cycling fitness I'd got............... they left me standing on the hills !!!!!

No bike ride today (Sunday) but plenty planned for the Xmas break & Summer sun shine.....

I shall returned from holiday determined to keep up with those girls on the hills

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Millie!
Nice to have all the rain for our animals huh? And now the warmth
Do you know Marion Webb? She rode in the Nationals and was down here from Auckland last Thursday for our evening TT (she was 5 mins faster than me!).

We are doing the celebration with our parents and children this evening - enjoy your Christams by the Beach

[Aggie_Ama]

Set out for a 20 or so miler yesterday. A cold front had started to push through and I am quite a wind wimp. The winds were in the 20-25 mph range, gusting closer to 30-35 mph and too much for me. We turned back and put in a whopping 4.4 miles.

[Geonz]

I rully needed time Away from People so I rode out on the tree-laden to the bike shop where I'd dropped off my Trek (the faster hybrid) and switched out and rode into the 20 mph headwinds 'til I felt better (41.4 miles with a roaring average of 11.5 mph 'cause "recovery" parts are *really* slow in a headwind )
and got back and there was a present on my bicycle from the LBS guy and then I rode the Xtra back long enough to make a metric and an extra tenth of a mile out of it. Had to laugh at the idea of "me time" being a bike ride on a ghastly grey day (tho' it *was* 49 degrees)...
Gonna try to do the same today, except I'm not sure the bike shop's open... one way to find out. Takin' off soon!