March 14 rides - spring hath come?

[alpinerabbit]

Woo hoo!

today was my first real long ride - and possibly my 2nd ride at all this year? Yes, I think so.

In the morning, I took out a workmate for a test MTB ride. About an hour, plus almost half an hour there, and then back to my favorite BS to return the test bike and discuss what she might need (if she decides to get one).

But after the attempt of getting a new person hooked, I was in need of another fix:

By 2 pm it had turned into an almost balmy pre-spring day, as announced, about 15°C, and I just exchanged shoes and took the road bike for its ride. 2.5 hrs or so for a flat 65K. I worked at it hard, muscles sometimes complaining - boy did I lose fitness, but what can a girl do. Last September I managed this loop 3x in a row.


*give it to me*

[Biciclista]

bleah. is that what this is??
happy riding to you.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Still trying to figure out what that picture means....

But anyway-
DH and I had a really nice ride this morning too! Started around 33F degrees, warmed up to 40 by the end- but sunny and no wind, so it was really pleasant weather for riding. Had my snuggly merino wool base layers and a screaming yellow windbreaker vest on. Three pairs gloves were needed and 2 heavy socks, but I judged it all well and was comfy for the 24 mile ride.
I'm out of shape- not my muscles so much but my breathing and heart rate. So the next month I'll be struggling along a bit. I managed fine today on the hills, but my speed is down by about 2mph from last Fall. I'm slow enough already! Oh well, it'll get better slowly.
We had a lovely ride, and I feel like I got an excellent workout too.
Not much road kill yet either, so that's always nice.

[alpinerabbit]

Still trying to figure out what that picture means....

Shows how much a bike junkie needs her fix - and a little bit how I feel after the ride (I had to do a food run after - yikes...)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh, ok. whew!- I was afraid you were doing steroids to get through your rides.

Funny story-
Today as DH and I were going down the road (and DH was further up the road than me), I heard bikes in back of me at the last second when they were about to pass me (I hate that when they sneak up behind you without letting you know they are about to pass, but...) so these two 45-something men came blowing by me and I said hello as they passed me and they did too. We were just about to start up a very steep hill, so I said "well here comes our big hill now" in a cheery way.
The one guy then said "Sometimes I like to go up hills like this in my big ring."

So I said "If I did that I'd probably fall over dead." To which he replied "Well it's great conditioning for the quads." What arrogance!! I mean here I am breathing heavy and he can see I'm in my very lowest granny gear and I'm gamely and steadily grinding up that steep hill.

I wanted to say "Well how nice for you!" or... "WhatEVER" or... "Well aren't YOU the macho one though!" or... "I could crack your puny skull like a walnut between my quads"...(but then maybe he'd get so distracted by that mental image that he'd fall off his bike and get hurt).

But I said nothing more because he was obviously an insensitive insecure dope that didn't deserve my attention. Besides, a real man was sweetly waiting for me at the top of the hill.

[redrhodie]

What a jerk.

[ladyicon]

Oh, ok. whew!- I was afraid you were doing steroids to get through your rides.

Funny story-
Today as DH and I were going down the road (and DH was further up the road than me), I heard bikes in back of me at the last second when they were about to pass me (I hate that when they sneak up behind you without letting you know they are about to pass, but...) so these two 45-something men came blowing by me and I said hello as they passed me and they did too. We were just about to start up a very steep hill, so I said "well here comes our big hill now" in a cheery way.
The one guy then said "Sometimes I like to go up hills like this in my big ring."

So I said "If I did that I'd probably fall over dead." To which he replied "Well it's great conditioning for the quads." What arrogance!! I mean here I am breathing heavy and he can see I'm in my very lowest granny gear and I'm gamely and steadily grinding up that steep hill.

I wanted to say "Well how nice for you!" or... "WhatEVER" or... "Well aren't YOU the macho one though!" or... "I could crack your puny skull like a walnut between my quads"...(but then maybe he'd get so distracted by that mental image that he'd fall off his bike and get hurt).

But I said nothing more because he was obviously an insensitive insecure dope that didn't deserve my attention. Besides, a real man was sweetly waiting for me at the top of the hill.

Awww lisa that was such a great story, I mean the part when DH is waiting at the top of the hill for you .
Those other guys were jerks, I run across them all the time here. I just say hi and that is all. You know how some men can be..........