July 3rd holiday weekend rides

[Catrin]

I had a 34 mile ride this morning, and it went well. It took 3 hours, (I am not the fastest out there), and my energy was flagging those last 3 miles - but that was a nutritional problem. I was HUNGRY, thought I had enough with me and I had a good breakfast... I just have to work this out as my miles increase.

It was an awesome ride - took some new roads over into another county and the weather/temps was just beautiful!

[indysteel]

Glad you had a good ride! How's the new saddle

DH and I met some friends at Morgan Monroe State Forest--one of my favorite places to ride. The ride started with a good downhill that I have a love/hate relationship with. It's a little technical for my tastes. From there we headed for some hills in the area around Lake Lemon.

We were about 12 miles in when one of our friends broke a spoke. He's a big guy, and his wheel was unrideable. From there, DH and I rode back to the forest to get the car, leaving our two friends. The ride in was fun. We hit two long (for these parts) climbs and a good descent. Once back at the car, DH locked his bike up, and took off to retrieve our friends. In the meantime, I did another loop through the park. So, I got in 40 miles and DH got in 30.

I felt preety good most of the ride. It's hard to gauge my climbing because my skinny husband flies up hills, but I felt good and didn't have to take a breather.

[Catrin]

Glad you had a good ride! How's the new saddle?

I really want to like this saddle - there was some sit-bone discomfort - and some discomfort along the sides up front but not my girly bits I think that the proper parts of me are bearing the weight, finally. Jonathan warned me that it probably wouldn't be very comfortable at first. What discomfort there was left within a few minutes of getting off the bike - and I rode 4 miles longer than last Saturday - when the Brooks about crippled me for 3 days Whatever discomfort that did exist was many times better than the Brooks last week. I have 2-3 weeks to test the saddle before I have to make up my mind and I am going to test it as thoroughly as I can

DH and I met some friends at Morgan Monroe State Forest--one of my favorite places to ride. .... Once back at the car, DH locked his bike up, and took off to retrieve our friends. In the meantime, I did another loop through the park. So, I got in 40 miles and DH got in 30.

I felt pretty good most of the ride. It's hard to gauge my climbing because my skinny husband flies up hills, but I felt good and didn't have to take a breather.

Sorry to hear your friend broke a spoke, and it was great that they were not alone. It sounds like you still got in a good ride! Are the hills in Morgan Monroe as steep/long as Brown County State Park? I know THAT one is beyond me, for now.

[indysteel]

The main road into and out of Morgan Monroe is a gentle grade. It's kind of rolling. There is a BIG hill called Beanblossom that is part of the Hilly Hundred. It's the descent we did at the beginning. It's easy enough to avoid, however. The route we did hits some short, but slightly steep, hills on the way to Lake Lemon and, coming back, hits some long but not so steep climbs on Old State Road 37. When I say long, I mean maybe a half to 3/4 mile. They're the kind of hills that you just need to find the right gear and then patiently spin up.

I would say that, minus the descent on Bean Blossom, it's all doable for you. The steep stuff might be hard, but as I've said, all you have to do is dismount
and walk.

[Catrin]

The main road into and out of Morgan Monroe is a gentle grade. It's kind of rolling. There is a BIG hill called Beanblossom that is part of the Hilly Hundred. It's the descent we did at the beginning. It's easy enough to avoid, however. The route we did hits some short, but slightly steep, hills on the way to Lake Lemon and, coming back, hits some long but not so steep climbs on Old State Road 37. When I say long, I mean maybe a half to 3/4 mile. They're the kind of hills that you just need to find the right gear and then patiently spin up.

I would say that, minus the descent on Bean Blossom, it's all doable for you. The steep stuff might be hard, but as I've said, all you have to do is dismount
and walk.

This is good to know - it is the technical descents that have me very nervous as there is NO chance of practicing those around here. Eventually I will need to take this on but I do not want to do it alone the first time. Call me a wimp

I am a little nervous about the CIBA ride down there on July 17th, I've been told there is one descent where one can go 45 mph! That sounds like fun, but I've yet to hit downhill speeds greater than 26 mph, and our hills are so short...however there is no club rule that says that I can't go down the hill slower. I just have to figure out how to do it without overheating my brakes

Those long climbs sounds like just the thing that I need to take on, as you know here the hills are quite steep - but quite short.... This doesn't concern me as I've yet to see a hill I can't walk up

[Blue_Fedora]

I did my first ride with a group from a LBS that's really not all that "local" LOL! I drove like 40 miles to go with this specific group after hearing they have a really good, really supporting, no-drop, "women only" ride each Saturday. Come to find out that's only in the summer (starting in a couple of weeks) and the rest of the year it's co-ed. No biggie, I was just glad to finally do a ride with a bike shop group.

A rather short 30-miler but for some reason the terrain in that area just kicks my tail something fierce! The first 5-6 miles my legs felt like lead I thought to myself "I must be riding on a flat or something" cuz I just couldn't get up any real speed. Luckily I pushed thru it and things got better

To be honest, I didn't find this group to be particularly friendly but can I really say that since I've never ridden with a LBS group before? Aside from the ride-leader no one talked to me though they did talk to each other Oh well, I'm glad I did it... I just enjoy riding

[rubywagon]

I couldn't make my club ride this morning, so I was planning on doing a solo 50. 5 miles out, I was chased by two dogs (first time!), 15 miles out, my shifter broke. I had to ride to the bike shop on my little ring. Thaaaaaat was fun. Apparently there is an issue with Shimano 105 shifters and luckily, it was covered under warranty. Phew! So I only did 30 this morning, but I really enjoyed myself, even with all of the things that went wrong.

[7rider]

I just flew back from Honolulu (and, boy! are my arms tired!! ). Flew all night via Chicago to Baltimore. Got in at 9 a.m. this morning. Have gotten about 3.5 hours sleep in the past 36 hours. A little fried and glad I took a shuttle home, rather than drove to the airport. DH was off attending a memorial service for our friend who was killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike last week. I dragged the suitcase in the house, left it in the laundry room, went upstairs, brushed my teeth and fell into bed for an hour b/f DH came home. We watched the tail end of the Tour Prologue, got on the bikes and rode down through Rock Creek Park, with the requisite stop at the LBS, where we schmoozed for over an hour, as every time we made to leave, somebody else we knew walked in, and we ended up chatting some more!
So...we got 31 miles in - my first ride in 2 full weeks - pizza is ordered, and the bed is looking mighty inviting right now.

[Zen]

I have no idea how far I rode. I was helping out at the stops in an alley cat race. Much fun!
Around 11pm I rode back to my car on nearly deserted city streets. Pure bliss.

[owlice]

I took a short ride tonight; started a bit after 9 PM and rode 13 miles. I thought maybe I'd see some fireworks as I rode around the lake, and I did. I was hoping for legal ones, though.

I had an experience while riding I've not had before: I got buzzed by bats! Each time it happened, I was in the woods or otherwise under cover, so to speak; it didn't happen when I was riding around the lake, which is in the open.

[Zelda_K]

yesterday the weather in Luxembourg was extremely hot and sweaty. So my hubby & me had a relaxed mountainbike ride in the shadowy forests, stopping often to make pictures or to try to find our way, as we were lost several times.

http://picasaweb.google.com/kloodinn...fCMNurBbrbq9g#

[Owlie]

I set out to do 30 miles as a bit of a celebration of my bike's "birthday", so I headed north on the Little Miami trail. I wound up in Fort Ancient...18 miles away. It was getting hot, so I turned around and went back. Lots of people with their kids and dogs (not surprisingly) on the trail, so getting back was a little hairy. I went through less water than I thought I would (though I drained the camelbak and the Gatorade). I was afraid I'd run out of Shot Bloks, but I made it back with two still in the package. I definitely saw an owl fly across the trail on the way back.

36 miles total. I'm definitely in better shape, though I'm not setting any speed records.