March 6 Rides

[limewave]

Got in another 15 miles today. That's 45 total miles for me this week. I don't think I've ever gotten that much mileage in the first week of March ever.

About 3 miles the bolt in my crank fell out! I'm riding along, pedaling with one foot, the other has the crank dangling from my cleat I blanked on the best way to stop so I kept pedaling like this for another mile. Finally I unclipped my other foot and "tipped" into a snow bank

Special Thank you to my parents for watching the kids so DH and I could "sneak" out together.

[Bike Chick]

Oh how scary, Lime! It sounds like you got your ride finished though.

I got 20 miles in this afternoon and it felt glorious! It was actually in the 50's and the sun was shining. Could it be...........is it really........spring???? I sure hope so

[azfiddle]

I wouldn't have had any idea what to do! Glad you got home okay.

I went 46 miles today with a group. I can keep up with them for part of the ride, and eventually I fall behind, but they waited for me. I ran over a big metal construction staple- it was the first flat I've experienced while I was actually still riding. Every other time, the flat showed up at the end of ride or the next morning. I had help on changing the tire- I could have done it, but it would have taken me longer.

Still perfect riding weather out here in the desert, but it's going to rain again tomorrow.

[shootingstar]

Good thing you could fall gently into snowbank, limewave.

We did 38 kms. Lots of photo shooting since the cherry tree blossoms are out early this year. Sunny, bright and cool still. We both needed photos each for different reasons. I'm doing an article for an organization related to cycling and he for a document to try to bring in a European cycling conference to our city, as the host city.

If this happens, it will be a feat.

[Crankin]

Did my first road bike ride of the year. Fourteen hilly miles. Remind me not to run the day before riding.
It was gorgeous, 54 out, bright sun. Although my average was pitiful, I feel great now.
Tomorrow will be a longer ride, about 30 miles.

[kmehrzad]

Got in 45 miles today. It was 51 degrees and a bit windy going NW, but I was sailing on my return trip. Looking forward to tomorrow's ride; temperature is expected in the upper 50's with less wind.

[7rider]

I think I'm going to write "STOP WHINING!" along my top tube in a Sharpie.

DH and I went out for a 27 mile loop through Howard County, north of us, today. It was cool (36F/~3C) and, per usual, I was having difficulty breathing for the first 10 miles or so. My lower back was aching, too. I wanted to just head out to Route 108 and turn around, turn it into a 18 mile ride. But I said nothing when DH took the right that was the loop route, and I followed. I hung off the back so I could better see all the winter's new pot holes. Wah, wah, wah. Hills. Cold. Headwind. Not happy at all.

I've been in a really negative state about my riding lately. Not doing enough of it. Not fast enough. Always getting dropped by the group. Not really caring, cuz I really don't want to play with them anymore. Wah. I wanna pick up my marbles and go home!

So, that was my mindset for the ride.

On the way home, we saw a friend of ours heading out. He turned around and we spent the next half hour () pulled off the side of the road, chewing the fat. He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around. The friend reminded me that I really need to get that negative monkey off my back. That devil on my shoulder that whispers in my ear "I can't." "I can't climb that hill." "I can't hang with the group." "I can't..."

Arrrrgghhhh.... He's been my passenger for so long, I don't know how to be rid of him. Any ideas?

[kmehrzad]

He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around.


What's the training camp you're referring to? Cycling related or Boot Camp? How to get the whiner off your shoulder? Hmmm, I always tend to focus on my surroundings during a ride and that puts me in a better mood (the trees, the birds darting back and forth, the cloud formations against a blue sky, etc.) - it's simple but works for me.

[Fredwina]

Not quite as bad as limewave, but still puts an end to your day:

and the weather didn't look good:

But got in 45 out of 50 (went home and switched bikes!)

[7rider]

He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around.


What's the training camp you're referring to? Cycling related or Boot Camp? How to get the whiner off your shoulder? Hmmm, I always tend to focus on my surroundings during a ride and that puts me in a better mood (the trees, the birds darting back and forth, the cloud formations against a blue sky, etc.) - it's simple but works for me.

It's a Spring Training Camp in the Blue Ridge Mtns of VA. Fortunately, it appears to be full, not that we could afford it anyway (and I don't think I could handle a full week with that coach w/o going absolutely Postal on someone. ).

I've actually thrown out my back watching birds from my bike (and ridden my bike completely off the road!). Birdwatching + bike riding = very bad for my health! My main problem is I am faster than the slow riders and slower than the fast riders, so I'm forever stuck in no-man's land on each group ride.

[kmehrzad]

It's a Spring Training Camp in the Blue Ridge Mtns of VA. (and I don't think I could handle a full week with that coach w/o going absolutely Postal on someone. ).

I've actually thrown out my back watching birds from my bike (and ridden my bike completely off the road!). Birdwatching + bike riding = very bad for my health! My main problem is I am faster than the slow riders and slower than the fast riders, so I'm forever stuck in no-man's land on each group ride.

LOL --- So there's a possibility you'd go Postal on Coach Josh, eh? I agree, you've got to be in the right frame of mind to ride a week's worth of "90 - 100 mile days, and finish feeling like you did all you could do. And then get up the next day and do another 50 just to make sure."

[pfunk12]

I've been in a really negative state about my riding lately. Not doing enough of it. Not fast enough. Always getting dropped by the group. Not really caring, cuz I really don't want to play with them anymore. Wah. I wanna pick up my marbles and go home!

So, that was my mindset for the ride.

On the way home, we saw a friend of ours heading out. He turned around and we spent the next half hour () pulled off the side of the road, chewing the fat. He is a big proponent of this training camp he attends in April. He thinks DH and I should do it. He also shared my mindset a few years back. This camp turned him around. The friend reminded me that I really need to get that negative monkey off my back. That devil on my shoulder that whispers in my ear "I can't." "I can't climb that hill." "I can't hang with the group." "I can't..."

Arrrrgghhhh.... He's been my passenger for so long, I don't know how to be rid of him. Any ideas?

Okay...first of all, we like playing with you even if you don't want to play with us anymore . And we miss you out there! From what I know (and I'm very familiar with what's going on with you), your riding has been extremely inconsistent and almost non-existent recently - mostly because of the weather (snowstorms, black ice, cold and your infamous iceberg). And also, you and Tom were taking advantage of all the snow and skiing a lot and that's cool. Hopefully, you can start commuting again soon and then you'll eventually start doing the group rides because you will regain your confidence and your riding will get stronger. Wait a minute. Who am I to give you advice about cycing?! You're my mentor! But seriously, you know that if you were riding consistently, you can hang with the Saturday and Sunday group on any day.

I think the training camp sounds like a great idea.

[pfunk12]

Should have posted this in my last e-mail but I'm tired and I forgot. I did the N2 group ride this morning. It was a good turnout because the weather was nice but still chilly - 33 degrees when we started. I couldn't add on and do the Poolesville route because I had to be somewhere early in the afternoon. Only 4 of us did the shorter route but me and one of the guys added on mileage in the end. So I ended up with 55 miles. It was a gorgeous day.

[Catrin]

I am looking forward so much to being able to get out and do a "real" ride instead of going around a drive circling a campground - however I did enough laps today to rack up 12 miles on my odometer Hey, small steps first and I am most persistent when I have a goal

[Red Rock]

Well I think I did somewhere around 20-25 miles today. It was very blustery with rain clouds moving in. I was a ble to catch the ride before the real clouds moved in. There were periods where I was facing a head on wind. I think I did enough in the wind to burn extra calories, as well as, getting an extra good workout.

I did my "normal" route that goes through neighborhoods. Went to a park area ate a Mojo bar and drank water. Then I got back on the bike and was thinking to perhaps end my ride where I normally do. By this time the wind had really picked up, so I had second thoughts. My knee tendon, on the kneecap, was acting up also in both knees so that added to the decision. At the rest stop, I lowered my saddle some to see if that would help.

Then I headed for home. There is an area where you come in towards a major intersection that has always bothered me, so I was thinking of ways to avoid the whole thing. I went around through another section of town, going south, and was able to connect to a bike path. This ended up being much better.

It also got me thinking how I might be able to do my normal route but then add on this southern route for more miles. It was like wow, I could do a major cyle tour all around town. I just need to get my mileage up along with better condioning to before I even venture to think about doing something like the two routes combined.

P.S. I have also seen more Ironmen out riding different areas of the bike section. I was even wondering I might see Fatty and the Runner out riding. The other day, I saw someone in the whole Mellow Jonny's bike shop kit too. I thought , gee is that Lance?

Red Rock