Saturday July 14 rides

[Duck on Wheels]

Put on my bike gear this morning, so at breakfast DH asks what route I'm thinking of doing ... and decides to join me. We did the 20-mile route around the smaller resevoir. He was really sweet and patient, waited for me on hilltops when I gave up and walked, stayed behind me the rest of the ride. I rode two more hills than last time. Instead of walking the rest when my HR passed 170, I stood for a bit, sipped some water, then got back on when my HR had dropped. It worked. I made it up! Yay! Next time I'll have to try that on the four hills I did wind up walking.

At one such break, DH recalled when it was we'd ridden that route together last. Had to be between 1980 and 82. Summer 83 I was enormously pregnant. 1980 was when this guy A.T. took over as boss at the lab where DH was working, and DH remembered us stopping at that same spot (last hilltop before the long downhill) and seeing AT ride by. So ... 25 years ago. Back then the bike I had weighed at least twice what RubySlipperz does and had half her gears, but hey, I was 25 years younger.

Now it's shower time, then lunch, then out to buy some plants together with the upstairs neighbor. Maybe also some reading and quilting tonight. Gotta have a students' thesis draft read when she gets back from vacation, another student's paper draft read by Monday. Also gotta have UK Elephant's messenger bag done for her birthday next month.

[SouthernBelle]

Hey! I thought I was going first! No fair being on the other side of the world.

Rode to beautiful Watertown, TN this morning. Straight down the highway to get there, back roads coming back. Very rolling with some short but steep climbs and a couple of really good descents.

On one part, on a road I wasn't real familiar with, went down a big curving descent lined with trees. As I come around the curve, whoa, there's a stop sign and I'm gonna have to turn. I did manage to stop without locking up. I'm going to check my heart rate for that spot when motion based starts to behave itself.

Had another descent which I consider a little scary, but I did pretty good on it.

35.27 miles. Legs feel good.

[RolliePollie]

I had a very pleasant 34.4 mile solo ride today. The weather isn't too hot, so I was able to sleep in and didn't get out the door until about 10:00. I did one of my typical loops down towards Placerville. Lots of fast downhills and lots of climbing. Around mile 20, I was passing by my house so I stopped for a 10 minute potty/snack break. Then I took off again and rode up Pollock Pines. The last 3 miles or so was down hill, which I always consider a treat at the end of a ride. My total climbing today was approx. 3,400'. I've recently graduated from my Camelbak to water bottles, and it feels soooooo good to get that hot thing off my back.

I had kind of a funny encounter with a squirrel. He was sitting right on the center line watching me coming. Then he literally started running in a circle trying to figure out which way to go. He looked like the Looney Tunes Tasmanian Devil...just a blur of grey fur. If I hadn't been so concerned about hitting him, I would've been cracking up. He finally decided which way to run, and luckily it was the correct choice. He didn't end up under my tires.

[Fredwina]

62.4 miles
Did a little bit before the club ride (I went up to Duncan canyon), during which I re-enacted the dog scene from "American Flyers" Did the usual slog up Mt Baldy Road, My Friends thought I would catch them on the descent . I need to re-gain those 10 pounds . So I rode back by myself and gave them a hard time After a smoothie, I rode home and watched Phil and Paul without Bob and Al

[HillSlugger]

Just a short ride, 10.35 miles, 39:30, but it was the second event of my practice sprint triathlon. I was in data deprivation because my cyclocomputer wasn't working. I never knew my speed or cadence. Overall, my legs felt tired and I felt like I needed to use smaller gears than I should have been able to push. I was surprised how hard this was, but I've been slacking off on the riding to get my swimming and running ready to go.

[sbctwin]

I had a pleasant early morning 50 mile ride. It felt good to be able to leave from my house and I now have a very nice loop I can do without having to drive somewhere first. The last 10 miles however, I got kind of lost and kept hitting dead end streets. That helped to make it 50 mile ride versus a 45 mile ride. It was 74 when I started at 6am, and about 85 when I got home. It was getting too warm by that time, at least for me...

[makbike]

I awoke this morning with a smile on my face and butterflies in my stomach for I decided to tackle yet another century. The route was unknown and had the potential to be very hilly (I hate hills). I printed of the directions from the club website, ate, loaded my car and left with time to spare. I got to the correct exit and prompting headed the wrong direction. By the time I realized something was amiss I knew I was in trouble. However, I stopped at the local farmers market asked for directions, was pointed in the right direction and I headed off hoping I would make it before the group left. I also realized I probably would not make it but wanted to try. I did find the starting point and was happy to see they gang had not yet left.

I quickly pulled my stuff together so I would not delay the group. As we headed out I realized my old computer was not working; the display read 000000 at every push of the mode button - was this an omen of what was to come? However, at the 4 mile mark I looked down and old faithful had come to life and was right on target. I'm not sure what happened but I was relieved to see it was working and providing with me all the information I like to track on a ride.

The first 25 miles were very flat and I love flat. The group was flying toward Medora and I was right in the midst of the "fast dogs." At one point I looked down to discover I was in my big chainring which explained my "flying" mode and I hoped this would not come back to haunt me later in the ride. We arrived at the first store stop and my average speed was an unbelievable 18.2mph. I knew I would not be keep this pace up for the remaining 75 miles but I felt strong and knew good thing were to come on this ride.

By the time we made it to the lunch stop (61 miles) my average speed had dropped to 16.6 mph but I was still smiling and having a great time. We fought a mild headwind (7 - 10 mph) to the lunch stop and all I could do was hope that headwind would become a tailwind at some point. My wishes came true as soon as we pulled out of the parking lot. I felt a huge smile creep across my face. Again, I found myself in amongst the "big dogs" or slightly behind the group but with each passing mile I felt stronger and more confident on my bike.

At the last store stop my trusty computer told me my average speed had picked up to 16.8 mph and we only had 15 more miles to go. Off I we went and once again the wind was our friend and a gentle hand was pushing me back to my car. I was flying down the beautiful back roads of Indiana and having a great time. At one point I checked my average speed and was treated to 17.0 - a personal best. I was determined to hold on to this and took it up a notch or two. By the time I pulled into the parking lot my average speed was a gloriously 17.2. I had traveled 102.76 miles and I felt great. A huge smile consumed my face and my spirits were soaring. It was an unbelievable day and I feel so blessed to have been able to participate.

It was a great day. I rode with some wonderful people, was treated to some beautiful sights (a round barn, a covered bridge, green fields of soy beans and corn and a group of horse and a mule that "raced" us as we rode along) and found myself happy and feeling good.

[mudmucker]

Makbike, good for you. I've been following your other earlier threads: I know you said you were doing this century today. Sounds like you had a terrific ride and I'm glad your spirits have lifted. Amazing what a week will do combined with a change in hormone levels.

[cosc]

Makbike, congrats on a great fast century! Sara, I enjoyed hearing about your scared crazy squirrel. I rode 38 miles in the heat of the day. I saw beautiful mares with their adorable colts and scared some pheasants that took flight. I was very tired upon arriving home. I must leave earlier this next week as temps are supposed to be in the 100 all week.

[HoosierGiant]

160 miles across the state of Indiana (RAIN Ride).

Whoo-doggies!! Thank goodness having that much fun is legal!

It was awesome, and I felt great! Think I'll solve world hunger and illiteracy next!

[oldbikah]

I did a nice solo 25 mile ride on the coast of Maine after deciding that I had a hankering for a lobster roll. I drove from the western mountains to the coast, Moose Point State Park, parked and discovered it was free parks day for those who have conservation license plates. I rode up to Searsport and Stockton Springs, then out to Fort Point State Park, around Cape Jellison and back to my start. Lots of traffic on the famous route 1 but a wide shoulder.

I was driving home after getting groceries, etc. and as it was getting dark, about 8:30 pm, the light wasn't too good. A deer popped out of the woods, and I was going about 60-65 miles an hour (which I admit was too fast) I hit it broadside. Killed the poor deer, but didn't actually do too much damage too my vehicle. Unfortunately it is a common accident up here in the mountains.

My DH's comment: expensive lobster roll!

[7rider]

Ouch, OldBikah...I hope you are okay yourself! Poor deer...the one time I hit a deer, it fortunately kept running and was fine (we went back and looked for it).
Yesterday, I did a solo ride out to Bantam Lake in the town of Morris, CT. It was one of those rides that seems to be up hill in both directions! Saw a few other cyclists - but it was hard to be chatty, when you're gasping for air like a fish out of water!
26 miles - a bit over 14 mph average.

[Duck on Wheels]

Hey there, Makbike Congrats on doing that century.
Sounds like you had a great ride! Glad to hear it!

[maillotpois]

Did the Death Ride (yes, all 5 passes -duh ). Best thing was all of the folks we coached (for TNT) had good rides. This is a really tough ride. I got to have a come back on the ride, since my illness last year prevented me from doing it.

My "ride report" is in my Bike Journal journal.

[maillotpois]

Congrats makbike and hoosier on great ride results!

Duck - that was a very sweet tale. Good for DH!!

Yikes, OldBikah! (Reminds me of the moose dinner I had in Newry, Maine many years ago. The moose was roadkill. Quite good!