November 4 rides

[Fredwina]

Well, I guess be first
Note the frost. My Camelbak tube froze:


Niskayuna depot:

Lock 7 on the Mohawk:

I need to take a Break:

The sun gets in the way:

almost to the end of riding season:

[redrhodie]

Pretty pictures, Fred. It looks like you're finding your way around quite nicely!

I did the regular shop ride with my cohorts. I had some extra energy, and led for a lot of the ride, even into the cold north wind after the turn around. I tried to move to the back, but no one wanted to move up. What a bunch of slackers, all fighting for a wheel. And I thought I was bad. We had a couple of sprints along the way, races which crack me up in both their intensity and randomness. If you don't know it's about to happen, forget about it, and the sign it's "on" can be as subtle as a glance, if anything at all. But I rode hard until I nearly puked. It was fun.

We were down to 2 women today. The rest of the ladies tend to be of a more demure physique, so maybe they suffer more than I do when the temps drop; being of hearty Belorussian stock, I am at my best in the cold. I'm not sure how long the rest of the pack will last with me. I hope they make it through the winter. I'll be sad if the ride ends.

[bluebug32]

I also had a chilly Upstate NY ride today as I rode near the Hudson River. Tried my new Hincapie bibtights and they were toasty, so hoping they can get me through the forecasted 39 degrees at the start of tomorrow's ride!

[pll]

44 miles yesterday and today. The temperature is nice (~58 today), but the wind... 19mph with 30 mph gusts. I am beat and grateful I have walls around me.

[Crankin]

I rode for the first time in 2 weeks, as I am still recovering from bronchitis. It's really nice out, about 55 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze. Didn't go anywhere special, just one of our 8 mile loops, and then adding on a trip to the center of town and then home, where we stopped at the bike shop so I could buy the kind of tire levers I like for my seat bag for the new bike. A total of 12.8 miles. It's going to be warm all week, so I might ride tomorrow morning and then I am riding with Hirakukibou on Wednesday for the first time in about a month.
I finally got my Terry Falcon X saddle on the Guru, so all is well now. Every time I get on the bike, I feel "high up," can't really explain it, except now when I ride the Kuota, it feels a bit cramped. I am going to put the Kuota on the trainer this week, and ride the Guru for whatever riding I do until the season is over for me. I need a lot of time in the saddle to get used to the new feel of different geometry. Had a bit of toe overlap turning into my driveway (it is a tight turn, but never had this before), so I do have some tweaking to do with my riding.
I must say I really like the Frogs and being able to walk in my shoes, but will keep my road shoes/Speedplays for the Kuota.

[Fredwina]

Mural in Renssealaer

Turnaround in Castelton, Needs work:

I remember when these were new:

almost all gone:

It was windy going down, I almost turned around. But coming back up 9J @ 21 mph was real nice

[Fredwina]

Crankin, I think it varies. I rode a Trek 7300 yesterday, and it felt way up, compared to the specialized Ariel I rode last week. Of Course coming from a bent, everything is way up!

[Owlie]

46 miles. (New record!) Gorgeous weather. I haven't been on the bike much, and I'd only set out to do ~24. I rode up to Xenia, so that would have been around 34. But no, curiosity got the better of me--on my way back, I turned off checked out a trail spur and "shortcut" to the LM trail north of Xenia. Or part of it. Let's put it this way: I've never been so glad to see a McDonald's in my life! Then I got slightly lost in Xenia coming back to the Creekside trail...I was somewhat overdressed (Midzero tights, jacket, wool base layer under a short-sleeve jersey, full-fingered gloves.) I spent most of the ride with my jacket unzipped, my jersey partly unzipped, and glove-less! My legs were happy, though. ("Happy" here is a relative term.)

I'm not all that sore now that I'm off the bike and showered and everything. I'm exhausted, though, and I'm supposed to be studying and doing laundry!

[rubysoho]

This weekend I traveled to another state to see some friends and had my first large group training ride (20+ riders). It was a great experience and very eye-opening for me. I learned a lot and met some wonderful people.

What I learned:
*"Car back"
*pointing at holes, arm signals for turning, stopping
*I can keep up with 18-20mph rides on FLAT ground
*I canNOT keep up a high pace on the hills I faced. They were HUGE and nothing I have ridden before.
*Don't change your routine before a hard ride. And even if you feel you are working so hard you can't eat/drink make sure you take time to do it!

It really was the hardest ride I have ever done just based on the hills alone. And also due to a lot of factors I should have controlled better. It was cold (low forties when we started) and it took almost half an hour for my feet to regain feeling. I didn't hydrate on the ride and ended up with a headache and sore joints for a few hours after. The last three miles were my slowest ever (I was toast at that point, but not last! Lol.). BUT I LOVED IT!!!

So I have a lot to work on. Mostly hills. And I can't wait to get out there.

[owlice]

I've attached a picture from my ride today. Thanks to those who told me (on another forum here) about Fat Tires Bike Tours! Not a long ride mileage-wise, but great fun even in the wind wind wind.

Two things could have improved the ride: having a brush with me, and having my hair in a ponytail.

Medusa

[bluebug32]

Did 50 miles with a nice group today in eastern NY. We did some awesome hills and one dirt road climb. When we started out it was 39 degrees, very chilly and there was still some snow on the group from last week's storm.

[Roadtrip]

Weather here was nice, but I woke up very sore and legs achy, so I bailed on the planned ride. Who would have thought bowling would make ones legs so sore... Must be from using muscle groups in ways I'm not used to... Oy!!

Shannon

[azfiddle]

Fredwina, love the pics!

It was a super busy weekend- I was performing at the Celtic Festival, but my sets were at 10 am and 6 pm on Saturday, so I went home and rode 24 miles between performances, out at Saguaro Nat. Park. It was just barely warm enough for shorts and short sleeved jersery at 2 pm!

Today, I rode the last long ride with the Carmichael El Tour de Tucson training group, but had to leave early to get back to the Celtic Festival for my morning performance. I got in 42 miles- I think the rest of the group was doing 53 miles or so.

[AppleTree]

Slowly pedaling down the trail with a canopy of yellow leaves above and below and softly falling all around. One big maple leaf landed right on my handlebars. 24 miles, and a bit chilly here, low 40s today. I wore two base layers and thermal tights, ear warmers, I was a little worried about being overdressed (I HATE being too hot, I'd rather be cold than too hot) but once we were out riding, it felt just right! Several miles down the trail I came across a man wearing cotton shorts, t-shirt and flip flops!

Maybe someone forgot to tell him it was November?

[bluebug32]

Weather here was nice, but I woke up very sore and legs achy, so I bailed on the planned ride. Who would have thought bowling would make ones legs so sore... Must be from using muscle groups in ways I'm not used to... Oy!!

Shannon

I've had the strangest things make my legs hurt and deem them useless for the next day's planned ride. Exhibit A: swapping my desk chair for a stability ball = sore adductors and no ride! Crazy. Got to play it safe with those legs.