July 29th Weekend Rides

[Catrin]

Since we don't seem to already have one going, I will start off

Friday morning had a nice 19 mile ride before heading to work - while the temps weren't bad it was more humid than I expected. The 22 mile ride Thursday evening was actually a bit more comfortable though it was close to 20 degrees warmer

This morning I had a sweet 35 mile ride - first rode 13 miles to a friends house to check out their new Labrador puppy & visited for about 20 minutes, then took a longer route home to do some sprints in the cornfields and play on some hills.

An interesting thing happened on the way home, I was riding up a hill past the entrance to a subdivision and saw a 3-4 year old little girl on her trike in the entrance, right at the edge of the actual street. I assumed her parents were somewhere, but sometimes small children do get away so I pulled over and asked her where her parents were.

The little girl didn't speak, but pointed to a couple walking a dog who were about 2.5 blocks away and had a dog with them. They waved to me, and I just kind of hung out for a few minutes until they were just about there before I took off again as I didn't want to get caught up in a conversation. It is hard to see how such a little girl had gotten so far away from her parents even on a little trike, she had been at that intersection for at least a few minutes before I arrived. I wonder if she took the initiative and started before her parents realized Anyway, everything was fine, and it likely would have been fine if I hadn't stopped, but people do fly down Kissel Rd.

[blue_angel]

Yesterday I went out for a great ride with a friend. All told it was about 39 miles, which is actually the longest ride I've done since the century earlier this month. I just can't seem to get myself to go for distance like I was doing while training for the century. But hey, at least I'm still riding! This morning I did another 30 mile route through farm country. As happy as I am to be moving away from here, I will say that it's been a great place to ride and I'll miss that.

[Owlie]

Not today--I went out to put air in my tires, and sitting next to the step in the garage was a large rat snake! I spent much of the afternoon trying to gently persuade it to leave (and to make sure my mom didn't run over it). It left half an hour ago. Silly creature. Just as well, as it was unbelievably sticky this morning.

I suppose we're lucky it didn't make itself comfortable in the recycling bin. It was nice enough to let me take pictures!

[rollinat]

Had a very short ride yesterday - my youngest's birthday so couldn't be out long - but a lot of it was uphill, and has given me a plan for tackling the mega-hill near my house. Normally I stick the bike on the car and go to a trail but yesterday parked much closer, warmed up on a slight downhill and then had a slight uphill back. Then it turns into a much steeper hill all the way home. I think I am going to park where I parked yesterday and do the same route, then try each time to get a bit further up the steeper hill - and then I get to end on a downhill back to the car! It's too daunting to think of starting straight from my house still but I'd really like to be able to conquer the hill eventually.

This morning my DH and I were out for an hour or so, about 12 miles - he is only riding once a week so is even more of a beginner than I am, but nice for me to realize that 12 miles in an hour feels like an easy ride now.

Tomorrow I think I will tackle The Hill. Then I need to study - finals this coming week for my summer classes, aargh!

[surgtech1956]

I feel like a 'whimp' only riding about 10 miles a day. I need to 'kick it' into gear and get serious about riding. I rode 10 miles yesterday and going for a ride in a bit, it poured a few mins ago, going to make sure the storms are out of the area.

[Crankin]

Friday morning I got up really early and wanted to get out for a short ride while it was still dark, at about 4:45 AM or so. I thought i was being organized, but I had plugged in the wrong light charger the night before, as we have a few thrown in a pile near the place we charge all of them. DH got up, told me this and swore he wasn't going to ride with me, but he plugged in my charger and his and we got off around 5:15. By this time it was getting light, but the lights were still needed and they were charged. Only went ten miles, but at a brisk pace and it was super humid.
Today I rode 22 miles, in a combination of different loops. We changed our minds about where to go about 4 times, but it was good. Easy pace, saw a charity ride going in the other direction at one point, though I have no idea what it was. Next weekend is the PMC, and the number of people out there training is at a fevered pitch.
Tomorrow we are riding with friends to Kimball Fruit Farm in Hollis NH, from Boxborough (50 miles). We will be leading this ride 10/1, so it's a practice run. Beautiful and *very* hilly.