Saturday July 17th Rides

[Blue_Fedora]

Just finished a nice 18.5 mile ride thru Placerita Canyon with 1300ft of climbing. I may not be the best or fastest climber... but I still get there

I started taking indoor cycling classes this week to hopefully improve.

What's everyone else done today?

[emily_in_nc]

The usual 12-mile Saturday morning farmer's market ride with DH. Stocked up on tomatoes, peppers, squash, more tomatoes, basil, apples, and a cute little Sprite melon. Yum! Went by an antique shop in town to visit with a former neighbor who works there on the way back. Fun morning. An older woman driving even stopped a big line of traffic behind her to let me cross the road. That made me happy!

[redrhodie]

I was feeling a little crazy, and decided to ride at 2:45 p.m., on a Sat, in vacation-land, in the heat, with the traffic. I knew it would be frustrating, but I thought I'd consider it a lesson in patience and traffic skills. As little fun as riding a bike can be without falling off, but I'm glad I did it.

Oh yeah, and to top the cake, it was so windy there's a kite festival happening. 20 mph + gusts.

[Tri Girl]

Redrhodie- you're a brave, brave soul.
I rode a hot, humid 30 with a friend. We had a great ride, and enjoyed it despite the heat. Good times!

However, I was incredibly saddened to learn upon our return that a group of our friends found a cyclist in the ditch who had been hit and killed by a car sometime either yesterday or today. I was so incredibly saddened by the news. They tried to identify him, because he didn't have any ID on him. I really don't know how someone can do that to another human being and not stop to help. I'm crying right now just thinking of it.

Please wear ID or carry some with you. I can't imagine what his family must be going through trying to find him right now.

[tctrek]

Did a nice 30 mi ride that we call our "Coffee Shop" ride. Starts at Starbucks, we make a stop about 45 minutes in at a Caribou, pass another Starbucks after that (we don't stop) and end up back at Starbucks!

[Crankin]

I didn't ride today...
took the canoe out for the first time this year and paddled around a larger pond in Littleton, MA. Found a place to wedge in next to the shore that wasn't directly in front of someone's property and took a little swim
Came home, ate lunch and then sat my butt in a chair by our neighborhood pond. Took another swim, out to the dock in the middle of the pond, which for me, is a miracle. Most 6 year olds could swim this far.
My arms will be hurting tomorrow!
Red Rhodie, I can imagine the wind by the shore. It was gusty paddling on a pond. But the humidity is going down and tomorrow will just be 90 degrees and dry . We'll be riding early.

[redrhodie]

Redrhodie- you're a brave, brave soul.
I rode a hot, humid 30 with a friend. We had a great ride, and enjoyed it despite the heat. Good times!

However, I was incredibly saddened to learn upon our return that a group of our friends found a cyclist in the ditch who had been hit and killed by a car sometime either yesterday or today. I was so incredibly saddened by the news. They tried to identify him, because he didn't have any ID on him. I really don't know how someone can do that to another human being and not stop to help. I'm crying right now just thinking of it.

Please wear ID or carry some with you. I can't imagine what his family must be going through trying to find him right now.

That is so sad, and must have been horrible for your friends.

[azfiddle]

32.5 --- getting kind of hot and humid (for Tucson) by the end- mid-90's, but it was very fun- the first time I had gotten out on a group ride for a couple months. Nothing special- just a ride toward the base of Mt. Lemmon and out to the far east side of the valley

[indysteel]

Oh, Tri Girl, that's awful. I'm sorry. I do wear a Road ID, but thank you for the reminder.

I rode 51 miles with DH and a friend. We went out slightly ahead of our club's ride. The type of ride on offer today was called "grand touring" ride. It's not marked or supported; the ride leader merely provides a map and a bit of support for those who might need it. It stops at a country market, which is nice. I like to support that type of business.

I was somewhat disappointed in the route. I'd done the ride before, but some of the roads were A LOT more chewed up than they were last year. A few stretches were arguably dangerous as they were on a descent. It would have been easy enough to reroute that section. I think the ride leader was a bit remiss in not doing so (although they did warn us about it). In the very least, they could have outlined the area with some paint.

Today's ride was on the hillier side. I felt okay for most of it, but the heat and humidity really started to get to me, even though I've consistently been riding in it. On one hill (a long one for these parts), we were followed by a dog for over a mile. I don't think he wanted to hurt us, but I picked up the pace to shake him past my comfort zone!

All in all it was a good ride. Catrin did part of the ride, too, so I'm eager to her take on it.

[azfiddle]

Oh.. I missed that tragic post... I saw a cyclist down once with people around, helping, and I was so upset I changed my route so I wouldn't go back through that intersection. I worry about things like that all the time. But so hard to believe that someone would have just left an injured person on the road...

[Catrin]

Tri Girl, that is terrible - and thanks for the reminder. As I ride alone most of the time I got a Road ID some time ago - but the reminder is always a good thing.

Oh, Tri Girl, that's awful. I'm sorry. I do wear a Road ID, but thank you for the reminder.

I rode 51 miles with DH and a friend. We went out slightly ahead of our club's ride. The type of ride on offer today was called "grand touring" ride. It's not marked or supported; the ride leader merely provides a map and a bit of support for those who might need it. It stops at a country market, which is nice. I like to support that type of business.

I was somewhat disappointed in the route. I'd done the ride before, but some of the roads were A LOT more chewed up than they were last year. A few stretches were arguably dangerous as they were on a descent. It would have been easy enough to reroute that section. I think the ride leader was a bit remiss in not doing so (although they did warn us about it). In the very least, they could have outlined the area with some paint.

Today's ride was on the hillier side. I felt okay for most of it, but the heat and humidity really started to get to me, even though I've consistently been riding in it. On one hill (a long one for these parts), we were followed by a dog for over a mile. I don't think he wanted to hurt us, but I picked up the pace to shake him past my comfort zone!

All in all it was a good ride. Catrin did part of the ride, too, so I'm eager to her take on it.

I chose the 36 mile option as this was my introduction to real hills - but wound up going on a completely different route for most of the first half of the ride because I got separated from the group, missed a turn, and then was lost for a time

I was at the rear of the group and a small gap developed because I am not a fast climber. Then we came to an intersection where the other traffic had the right-of-way - but I was a little behind the others and got stuck as I watched 10 cars get between me and the group before I could cross. By then they were 2 hills away. I COULD still see them though as I started climbing that first hill. I am not a fast climber. By the time I got up that first hill they were just a sparkle in the distance, by the top of the second hill they were gone.

After considering that I had the map and cue sheet I decided to just keep going at my own pace. The problem was that there were no street signs at intersections so I just kept going (for 6 miles) until I found a sign.

So here I am, on the side of the road trying to figure out where I on a map that only has a couple of street names when a lone cyclist comes along and I flag him down. We figured out a back-roads route to the market where I hoped to meet up with folks, I then called the leader and headed that way. I made it to the market before everyone left I did not call her before then because I had no idea where I was...

Apparently at some point the leader figured out that I was missing and they sent someone back to look for me - but of course that was too late However, I am used to riding solo on country roads so I wasn't overly concerned - I figured that I would find my way out somehow - and I had figured it out when the cyclist came along - he just showed me a better/quicker way.

I agree that several stretches of road on the way back from the market were dangerous - on one of them I was descending at almost 40 mph and all of the sudden there was this very torn up section of road Thankfully I have good brakes and was able to rein in the speed and find a place (in the wrong lane) to navigate through. I think it should have been re-routed - there were several places like that.

I felt fine in the hills, just very slow going uphill though had good, if a little nervous, fun going downhill. The next time I go on a ride like this, at the very least, I am going to have my own map that has all of the street names and more detail in case I should get separated again.

[Shaula]

Live in South Georgia where we have only two seasons: Fall and Summer.....Rode to my mom's, who lives 7 miles from me, towards the Okefenokee Swamp, visited and started back at around 10:30 am..really hot, sweat dripping, some hills and immediately hit my swimming pool when I got back (joined by my husband who finished a 35 mile ride with his riding buddies). So, total of 14 miles today...

[Irulan]

I dusted off my singlespeed and took it out to the state park which is perfect ss terrain. I went solo, did about 14 miles, had a lovely ride.

[HoosierGiant]

DH and I completed RAIN (Ride Across INdiana) --one day, one way, 160 miles. Rode to the starting line, did the ride, turned around and headed back to Knightstown -- 201 miles. My first double, which I vowed to complete before I turn 50 this summer. Hot and windy, but still a great experience!

[Catrin]

DH and I completed RAIN (Ride Across INdiana) --one day, one way, 160 miles. Rode to the starting line, did the ride, turned around and headed back to Knightstown -- 201 miles. My first double, which I vowed to complete before I turn 50 this summer. Hot and windy, but still a great experience!

Congratulations! It was certainly hot and humid today, very glad to hear that you had a good time! If I can ask, how long did it take?