April 29 rides

[Crankin]

Did my longest ride of the season today; 43.4 miles. The leader today was rather speedy for this group, but he was really trying to spread the group out, since despite the fact most of these people have ridden for 20+ years, some of them don't follow the rules so well. I am usually up front with these guys, but today I was struggling! After 15 miles, we stopped and I thought I was in the back; turns out I was at the back of the "front." This was advertised as a flat ride, but based on where the lunch stop was, I knew we'd be climbing one hill I am not too fond of. It's long. We rode through Weston, Sudbury, Marlborough, Framingham, back to Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston. Lots of farms and horses.
The weather was perfect. It was sunny and 54 when we left and 67 on return. Most of the ride was flat, but the mileage got to me before lunch. I ended up eating a Luna Bar and a bagel, since the thought of eating pizza or donuts was revolting to me. I think I may have been a little bonky, but the white bread bagel cured that. After lunch, there were 10 miles left. I got a second wind with about 6 to go and ended up getting back way before about half of the group. I think the leader had slowed considerably.
I was feeling really tired when I got home, so I took an Epson salt bath and ate some chicken salad. Then I actually managed to write a paper. Only one left!

[Skierchickie]

Sounds like a great ride, Crankin! Sometimes its the ones where you feel like you're struggling that show how strong you can be.

Mine was only 24 miles. It's just my 5th ride of the season, anyway. There was supposed to be a 13mph east wind, but I swear it was more like 20, with much higher gusts, and not really from the east. It felt like it was mostly uphill into the wind. I was going to take a side-road instead of the highway back, but got 1/2 mile down the road, and encountered several inches snow (that road doesn't get plowed in the winter, and takes a while to melt off). It would have been a hairy 6-1/2 mile stretch if it was all like that, especially on skinny roadie tires. So I had to turn around and go back on the highway, which includes a grinding 1-1/2 mile uphill, along with lots more uphill (the route I was going to take is more rolling). I'm pooped. And I'm still working on breaking my butt back in for the season. I rode 3 times 2 weeks ago, then we had 15" of heavy, wet snow, then rain and just yuckiness, and now I can ride again. Well, except for the rain in the forecast for the next few days. It's nice to be back on the bike.

[Heifzilla]

I just could not get into riding today, so I only did a 4.5 mile ride. The weather has been so crappy: chilly and dreary, and I am feeling PMS-y and blah. At least I managed to ride at all today

[OakLeaf]

First group ride back in Ohio, just four of us. Unsurprisingly, since I'd been riding all winter and they hadn't, it was pretty much of a cruise for me in spite of the hills.

The real test didn't come til late in the ride when we split to head home, two of us went up the big hill (3/4 mile at a 10 to 15% grade). I got to the bottom and went to shift into my puppy gear, and.... <grind, grind, grind, no shift>. Messed with the barrel adjuster on the cable - still no shift. I have never made it up this hill in anything but my lowest gear. Today, it was my 39x25 or walk. I thought about the old days when I could climb anything in my 42x21. Back then, my philosophy was that once I was in my lowest gear, there were so many pedal strokes to the top, and I may as well get 'em over with. So I stood on the pedals and I nailed that hill. 230 vertical feet of climbing on that hill alone, which is about what we'd do in our entire 37 mile loop in Florida (including 85 feet of bridges ).

w00t w00t, that was a real conquest for me! 31 miles total.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We did a pleasant 12 mile ride this morning in beautiful weather, before getting to work..

[msincredible]

Took a break from work this afternoon and went on a 35-mile 4800' ride.

Ended up doing a couple of miles of my climb with 3 guys, we chatted a bit.

Got complimented on my descending skills by a driver (I had managed to lose him until he caught up at the straight bit at the end).

Beautiful day although a bit windy (20 mph headwinds for most of my descent).