2010 Daffodil Classic

[XMcShiftersonX]

Is anyone else planning on doing this ride? I just registered for the 61.2 mile route!

-Jessica

[NbyNW]

I'm homesick. Nothing blooming here yet!

Enjoy your ride -- would love to see some pictures!

[Susan126]

I registered for the 61.2 mile course too! I think I will be ready for a 60 mile ride by April 18th! Also, if it's not raining and the weather is nice I think I will be doing the CATS ride this Saturday. I hope they are true to their posting because I plan to ride in the 16-18 mph group.

[XMcShiftersonX]

I'm with you too Susan! I hope it doesn't rain this Saturday either but right now it looks like that's what is in the forecast. I'm so bummed because I've been really looking forward to the ride and joining that group. Have you done the Daffodil Classic before? It doesn't look like there is a well defined start time so me and a friend of mine were thinking of starting around 9am.

[Susan126]

I know Jessica, I was looking at the long week forecast and it does look like rain on Saturday (king 5 says scattered showers but they're just covering their bases). I'm totally bummed because I was looking forward to that ride too. Darn, dang, and blaaaa! I have done the Daffodil Classic a few times and basically sign in is between 7 and noon. I usually start around 8 or 9 myself. It will challenge you and the food stops are fantastic. The CATS April 10th ride is a full lake loop (52 miles). It looks like the ride goes clock wise around Lake Washington. If it's not raining (ahem) I will do that one.

[XMcShiftersonX]

Well currently I'm trying to decide what time I want to start the Daffodil Classic. I'm not an early riser so 9 would be good for me. However, my friend and her sister that I had originally talked about doing it with are going to start at 7:30. My other friend who may do it would like to start no earlier than 9.

I was looking forward to the CATS ride this week because it was going to be a fairly flat ride, so I could see if I would do okay with them. hmmm. Right now I hate the weather... a week+ of no outside bike time?! BLEH! I don't know when I'll be able to do another group ride. I work the weekend after this one and then the next ride is the day before the Daffodil Classic, so I'd probably either take the day off or do an easy ride rather than the ride they're doing that week. Bummer!

[Susan126]

Maybe we can meet at the Daffodil Classic? Not that we will ride together because you guys are young and probably a lot faster than I am. You are my son's age. I have a son who will be 26 in July and a daughter who will be 28 in April. Right now I'm working hard to get back in shape. Maybe we will have nice weather this Saturday and then we can meet and ride at the CATS ride! I hope so. It looks like today is turning into a nice day. I think I will have to get my bike out later this afternoon and go for a short bike ride.

Sue

[XMcShiftersonX]

I was just going to ask you if you wanted to ride together at the Daffodil Classic! It seems like you and I have a lot in common, cycling-wise anyways. It turns out my friend that was going to do it and wanted to start no later than 9, decided not to do it afterall. And then my other two friends don't want to start any later than 7:30, which I think is too early! I was actually worried that you may be faster than me! So, if we end up not being about the same pace, we can do our own things. But do you want to plan to meet around the start at 9? I also hope this Saturday works out, then we could meet finally!

-Jessica

P.S. - I'm jealous that you get to ride today I'm stuck at work! I did 20 minutes of the Have Mercy DVD on my trainer last night and called it a night!

[Susan126]

That sounds great Jessica! Let's meet at the Daffodil start at 9 AM. I'll PM you my cell phone number too. But I'm still hoping Saturday will come through for us.

I was lucky today to get a ride in. I think I beat the rain. Only a short 12 mile ride but at least it was a ride. Hey the trainer is the next best thing. I try and go to my gym on the days I can't get out on my bike.

I wish my school district picked next week for our spring break instead of this week. Looking at the long term forecast next week looks lovely.

Sue

[XMcShiftersonX]

Nice! Yeah, cycling outside is just so different. I know spinning or being on the trainer helps, definitely, and I try to either get on the trainer or go to my gym when the weather is bad too. I've been trying to follow the STP training plan... some weeks I go way over the mileage, other weeks I don't get even close. But I think the rides that I do are way more challenging than what is needed for STP, so at least there's that!

[Susan126]

This week was a bust for me. Except for the one ride yesterday, this week was pretty sad. I drove to Spokane twice this week to help my son look for an apartment. He got a new job in Spokane and starts on April 19th. We found a nice apartment today. I just got home about an hour ago and I'm dead tired. The weather looks bad for tomorrow so I guess it's the gym and spinning and maybe some core work too. I'm doubtful about Saturday's ride but will keep checking the weather report. I plan to really start training beginning this week. If the weather allows, I plan on biking on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and do core and strength training on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It sounds like you are doing a great job training for the STP Jessica. Keep it up!

[XMcShiftersonX]

Thank You! It sounds like you're doing great as well! God, I would be exhausted if I drove that much, so I don't blame you! Looks like the weather is supposed to be bad for the next week. So, I'll just have to get in to a gym routine again so I can stay in shape! I usually do 30 minutes on the stationary bike (usually can't stand more than that!), 15 minutes of stretching, and then an hour and 15 minutes of either upper body weights, abs, or lower body weights, and then finish off with the sauna! I actually like it a lot but it still doesn't compare to being outside on the bike (and I got so used to being outside because the weather had been so nice)!

[XMcShiftersonX]

The day is almost here! Anyone else besides us doing this ride? What mileage? What time are you starting? I'm thinking I'll start around 10, do the 60 miler. It's going to be a challenge since the weather wasn't very good the last couple of weeks to train, but it'll be good training for other rides so I'm excited! If anyone else is doing it, I hope you enjoy the ride!

[Susan126]

What a long long day. I was up at 4:00 AM and we (hubby, daughter, and me) left the house at 5:30 AM for Spokane. We rolled in to my son's apartment around 10:30 and unloaded the rest of his stuff from Joe's truck. Then we all went out for lunch before we drove back home. We got in at 5:30 PM and had KFC for dinner. Then I tried to catch up on some laundry and I finally decided to jump on line before heading off to bed. I still plan on getting up early and trying to start riding around 8:00. I can hear the rain pounding outside but the weather report says tomorrow is supposed to be nice and the rain ends tonight. So get your rest and here's to a beautiful Sunday and a great ride! Ride reports are expected of your ride please! Oh and by the way it was gorgeous sunny and dry and warm in Spokane today! I knew I was back on the west side when we approached the mountains and I saw dark gray clouds clinging to it.

[Susan126]

What a great ride! I rode the metric (but I got a few extra miles in because I missed a turn and had to back track). So my total mileage was 65.41 miles. It was a pretty hard course. Very hilly, lots of chip sealed roads, and we had a crazy headwind most of the ride. A foggy start but the sun quickly burned it away. Great support! I especially enjoyed the second rest stop in Eatonville. They served us beans and rice! Yum! Great views of Mount Rainier the entire course! And strawberry shortcake at the finish!











All pictures taken with my cell phone's camera.