July 11 Didn't Rides

[Kano]

So there.

That's right, I'm not riding today. Again.

Danged air quality.

It's also hot, but it's a dry heat, and if the air weren't so bad, I'd be out riding in it. I like dry heat!

So, instead, I put my bike in the back of the Durango and took it for a ride. We went to get dog food, and lizard food -- these things would have been hard to carry while riding anyway. We also went to the LBS. (we did this as soon as we were done watching the Tour this morning)

I've been struggling with my middle ring lately. It's me, not my bike. Tech couldn't make it not work like I'm managing to do, so I'm eagerly waiting for the smoke to settle so I can ride again and practice more. Now it's not that I have always had problems with the shifting, so I seem to have developed a new lack of skill -- or maybe it's just that I'm trying new things? Well, anyway, I want to get out there and ride and I'm just about ready to say, air be dsmned!

While we were there, I also had a shorter whatchamacallit put on. You know, that thing that sticks out in front and holds the handlebars on. The word is probably in my mind somewhere, but it sure won't come out through my fingertips this afternoon! Another reason to be itching to ride, you know? See how the change affected things. I'm trying to decide yet if maybe I should also have narrower handlebars, but one change at a time!!! That, he just swapped out for me, very cool!

And while we were there, we bought some new tires for my bike: got her some Armadillos. Goat head season is coming, and I've always been very talented when it comes to finding goat heads. So, I spent some time this afternoon practicing my tire changing skills for what I hope is the last time for a very long time, and getting my hands really grubby.

And yes, I want to test drive those too, darn it! Gotta work tonight, or I'm pretty sure I would. I'd ride to work if I weren't going to be coming home after dark, with no lights yet. Darn it! I was looking at lights today, if I'd just purchased some....

Okay, I'm going to ride in the morning, while it's cool and the air is sorta settled from the night time, and for now, I'm going to go wash crud off my hands with the ymmy smelling orange pumice soap from Costco (automotive department) and then I'll suck it up and go to work for the evening instead of riding.

I hope those of you who DID get to ride today had a blast! And those of you who are riding in smoky conditions like we got here, ride easy! (DH is thinking about getting some of those silly masks...)

Karen in Boise

[7rider]

Hey! Another didn't ride day, here, too.
Bike? What bike??
B/t afternoon thunderstorms and busy busy busy...have't gotten out in a few.
And tomorrow, I WILL toss the bike on the back of the truck when I drive up to CT for a long weekend, but it's kind of a family/working thing, so I doubt I'll be doing much riding, then, too.

[teigyr]

Not ride here too. Am sore. Tried to run today but it was more like a hobble. I'm at work now so that's that! It's also extremely hot in Washington right now so I guess I'm justified.

The only upside of it is I get to see Floyd at the booksigning tomorrow

[ATL Laura]

I haven’t been on the bike in 11 days! I am such a bum . I rode my very first century 11 days ago, and it was great. I trained hard and had such a fun time on the century...but now I can’t get my butt back on the bike! I’m using the excuse that I’m catching up on my social life...went to dinner with friends a few times, went on a date . But tomorrow I’m heading up to NJ to visit my parents for a week and I plan on renting a bike and riding near the beach (thanks to the TE Jersey Girls who gave the great advice)! Hopefully when I get back to GA I can get my act together and get back on the bike.

[Fredwina]

Did my usual early morning ride. Not a whole lot to report on. We did have the marine layer this am (good; not as hot in the PM Bad: clouds obscure Sun in AM)

[MomOnBike]

It was a might-as-well-didn't ride today. Only 5 miles, and slow as molasses. One of those days with no energy, you know?

Now my back wheel is in the shop getting rebuilt & I probably won't ride again until RAGBRAI.

This is probably not the best planning on my part...

[divingbiker]

It was a might-as-well-didn't ride today.

Amen. I got a late start on my commute and a few blocks from home I had a near-flat on the rear tire. This is after a flat on the front yesterday. I rode most of the way back home till it was completely flat, then walked the rest of the way. I ended up being about an hour late to work.

The trip home was humid but not as hot as the last couple of days. Pretty miserable weather-wise, but it still beats my commuting alternatives.

[Crankin]

Today was the second time this season I rode with the Wednesday Wheelers group. They are a part of a bike club known for "fast" and "faster" rides. This group is mostly, ah, older people, all in very good shape who don't feel the need to hammer. Of course, there are some people in their 30's who come in the summer, but it's mostly retired people or those with flexible schedules. Anyway, I drove about an hour to the start, in Newburyport, MA. It was hot and humid and threatening rain, but the clouds kept the temperature manageable. And, there was a nice breeze. This group doesn't use cue sheets; instead they use a human arrow system. Most of the time it works out, but sometimes the person who volunteers to be the arrow leaves their "post" before the sweep appears and then people get lost.. OK, so the leader was a very nice older man who was giving us a tour of the area. He grew up around there, on a farm. The beginning was pleasant. We rode along the Merrimac River, on rolling country roads. He told some of us to go ahead of him on the hills and told us where to stop to wait. So, just to make conversation, I asked someone how old this man was. He's 86 ! I mean he was cruising along at 15-16 a good part of the time, although he seemed to slow to 12-13 along the way. This group does ride slower than I usually do, but i get to see new places and there's always a lunch involved.
After a very hairy stop in downtown Haverill, MA we headed back to a more country setting toward the lunch stop. After we stopped at a llama farm, we were off. On a slight incline, a couple of people got ahead of the leader and I followed. But, he didn't give us a cue. The next thing I know, I hear someone whistling loudly and chasing us. Of course, we missed the turn. So we head back and see a street, but there is no "human arrow" waiting there. The guy who chased us said he clearly told others he was getting us, but they went on. After much discussion and riding back and forth, up and down a hill, we decided that since we had no idea where the lunch was, except for which town it was in, we would head back to the cars. One guy had a map and we were not that far. Of course, by now the sun was out and very hot and it was 1 PM. I was starving. Thankfully, something had made me bring 2 Clif bars, so I started eating the second one. One of the other women who was in our group of 5 got a call from someone else on the ride; they were lost too! Anyway, we made it back to the cars and found out from someone who had left the lunch early that when they got there, the place was out of business, so people were going all over for lunch. Out of 23 people, only 11 arrived at the lunch stop. Something was really wrong here. I have ridden with this group probably 10 times and I don't think this usually happens. Oh well. I arrived home hungry and a little sunburned, but I revived quickly after a shower and then I went to get my nails done!

[Jiffer]

I didn't ride either, but I REALLY WANTED TO!!! My parents made a plan to take my kid's to the beach, in honor of my daughter's birthday. Since I already celebrated 2 days worth of birthday fun with her, I thought I'd take the opportunity to go on a relaxing long ride. It was like the only day in a two week period that I didn't have a commitment to be somewhere in the morning. The weather was perfect for riding (which meant it was NOT great beach weather, I'd like to point out!) However, I got sucked into going to the beach out of guilt and I'm now missing MORE cycling opportunities because of the major stupid sunburn I came home with. I'm doing anything I can to stay comfortable and cycling doesn't fall into the comfortable category.

Maybe I'll feel up to it tomorrow, but it will be a while before I can do a longer ride unless I want to get up extra early ... which I don't!

[Starfish]

Nice pic, PN!

[Popoki_Nui]

Nice pic, PN!

Thx...it's just the camera in my phone. It's taken looking south; just beyond the green hill at the end of the beach, you can just make out the Olympic mountains, and [out of view] Port Angeles. Hope you are able to stay cool over there too.

~Sherry.

[Starfish]

Thx...it's just the camera in my phone. It's taken looking south; just beyond the green hill at the end of the beach, you can just make out the Olympic mountains, and [out of view] Port Angeles. Hope you are able to stay cool over there too.
~Sherry.

I HAVE to get a camera phone.

Thanks for the well wishes...I'm one of those weird PNW women who LOVES to be hot and sweat in the summer. You'll never hear me complain about 100 degree temps. What you will hear is my whining about having spent the past 3 days in work-related training in a basement in Seattle! (The training was great...just being inside during sunshine isn't.)