Weekend Rides?

[Catrin]

I headed out today for a ride, but called it quits after 35 minutes and came home for another 40 minutes on the trainer. For some reason my asthma was troubling me...I didn't think I needed my balaclava for 41 degree temps, apparently I do

Still, it felt good on the bike, but even with my indoor work I can tell I've lost bike endurance...no matter, spring is coming

[Owlie]

First outdoor ride this year! 34.4 miles. Apparently the indoor training has been improving my speed (no computer right now, but I was done in about 2.5 hours and that included a pee break and some very long waits at intersections), but not so much endurance. I actually ate a large breakfast and still wasn't sure I'd get home toward the end.

[luv2climb]

Today I took my first real group ride with The Hammerin' Wheels Road Bike Club. This was a 28 mile ride with a couple of short climbs and descents, but nothing real grueling. It was billed as a ride for "intermediate beginner+" riders. Why did I ride a beginner ride when I'm not technically a beginner, you ask? Well, all their intermediate to advanced rides have average speeds that I know I can't maintain, so I was waiting for a ride that I knew I could keep up on for the entire ride.

I met BikeForums member sinclac. He was wearing the red Bike Forums 50+ jersey you see in the video, and was also one of the ride leaders.

On this ride I rode with the leaders for the entire ride. It started in Roseville and wound through Rocklin and Lincoln before returning to Roseville. The two climbs were on Twelve Bridges Drive in Lincoln. I don't think the grades got much over 7%. I did my usual push hard on the climbs and live up to my username thing.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/150650990

I apologize for the bounciness in the video. I adjusted the straps upward on the GoPro chest strap mount, but it made the problem worse instead of better.

Video is of the two climbs and descents. The rest of the ride was full of loud traffic and flat ground or slight inclines, so I figured it wasn't as interesting.

Video is 100% natural sound. This means heavy breathing on the climbs, so be forewarned!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAp7PqiUtPQ

[Crankin]

I rode outside yesterday; first outdoor ride in February this year. There have been quite a few good riding days this month, but, unfortunately, I've been at work or I wimped out and went on a hike or rode the trainer/went to the gym.
We did a loop around Great Brook Farm, 21 miles. I am still getting used to my Guru, but I think the issue with the Frogs is solved. I just have to keep my feet/heels turned a little more inward; I also have been able to hear a little click when I put the left foot in, which has been the problematic one. I was wearing my regular mtb shoes with booties, not my winter cycling boots, and I think that also helped. Also raised the saddle a little less than a cm.
It was really nice out, about 42-49 during our ride, but very windy. One of those days where you feel like you are riding into a headwind no matter what direction you are going.
We are meeting son and DIL for brunch at 1:00 today. I probably will venture out around 10:30 for a short ride, even though it will be around 36. Back to the winter shoes and gloves.

[goldfinch]

It has been rainy here so I've hardly ridden in a week. Yesterday the sun finally came out but the wind was vicious. In the open areas I could hardly keep upright with the gusty winds. Fortunately, the neighboring state park is sheltered so the wind was livable there. I did 20 minutes of "intervals lite" (at 90% effort, on a minute, off a minute) and came back home. All told, on the bike for all of a half an hour. Today should be less windy and no rain in the forecast for the foreseeable future. I am scheduled to ride with some of the old guys in the rv parks Monday and Tuesday so I won't do a real long ride today.

[redrhodie]

I did my lbs ride yesterday. They picked an easier route since I told them I wasn't up to climbing just yet. They also rode slowly, but I still couldn't keep pace. I had a nice guy stick with me, and we rode my speed, no pressure to go fast, but I still made a futile attempt. The rest of the guys stopped and waited a few times, but I still kept getting dropped. It was a little windy and in the 40s, a pretty beautiful day. 30 miles.

I need to figure out a game plan for next week, if I want to give it another go. I'm thinking of asking for one of the regulars to stay with me, so everyone doesn't feel the need to stop and wait for me, and someone doesn't end up in the babysitter role by default.

[Gypsy]

Road out yesterday, 23 mile ride in memory of a cyclist who was killed.

Today, another quick 20 mile ride with a friend, neither of us who has time to ride, but we're putting one in so take advantage of the weekend. Tomorrow I could ride, but I need to figure out if I want to -- I have a family visiting and with my group, it's half a day between the ride and the socializing.

[tzvia]

I hear you Catrin- I've been in allergy hell for over a week. Don't know what triggered it, but I was unable to breathe through my nose for a week and I'm still partially congested. Had to use a nasal spray for a few nights so I could sleep.

Gypsy .

So I went on my first ride in almost a week on Friday, commuting to work. And yesterday I rode in the Santa Monica mountains. The air was so clean and crisp, as we had some rain earlier in the week. So sunny, with a nice cool breeze. Kept thinking, this is why people move here. People are dealing with winter back east, and I am riding around the local mountains in shorts and short sleeves. . It's supposed to rain today but I doubt it.

[amb]

I got out for the first time in nearly 4 weeks yesterday. I could definitely tell I lost some bike fitness. I only got 17 miles in. It was chilly or maybe I am wimpy but it was in the low 40's and my ears, face and toes were a little chilly. It was nice to reunite with my bike though!

[Fredwina]

got out for about 20 miles on the Mohawk Hudson. Allergens punished me for doing that.
Cohoes, NY

Turn around at Niskayuna Depot:

Ice on the Mohawk:

and on the trail:

still mid winter

[Reesha]

got out for about 20 miles on the Mohawk Hudson. Allergens punished me for doing that.
Cohoes, NY

Turn around at Niskayuna Depot:

Ice on the Mohawk:

and on the trail:

still mid winter

Aw I lived in Schenectady for four years... I miss the Mohawk (was a Geology student while I was there-- lots of time spent at Vischer Ferry and other lovely places around there).

I had Friday off so I got a 40 mile ride in. I rode easily out to one of the parks in St. Louis the long way (10 miles or so) and then met up with four of the kids on my cycling team. All my trainer time has really paid off-- we did 30 minutes of low-intensity riding, then 30 minutes of medium-high intensity riding and I'm SOOOOO pleased to discover that I can keep up with the 17 year old boys! In fact we dropped Mason, one of the girls on the team. This is a good thing-- I was worried that as a coach I'd be constantly getting dropped by the boys. Then I rode him real easy 7 miles or so.

I decided to wear my tri shorts for some reason-- they'd always been comfortable before, but for the first time ever I was getting saddle sore on one side. This was only about 35 miles into my riding though. It's weird-- apparently I rode a saddle that was narrower than my sit bones for 5 years and not a once got chafing or a saddle sore. I did tend to squash on my tailbone and soft tissues though. Now I'm sitting directly on my sit bones, but saddle sore! Grrr. The Arione Donna is a good saddle for crit racing, but I'm thinking it's going to have to be a Brooks for my x-country bike trip this summer.

[ivorygorgon]

Rode the Saturday morning club ride. We had a timed hill climb in the middle. My average was fast for me, but I can't come anywhere near to keeping up with this club. They were doing at least 20 on some of the hills!!

DH and I are going to do some kind of ride today, we haven't decided what yet.

[azfiddle]

I rode 43 miles yesterday, mostly solo, though I shared my national park card with some visiting cyclists from New York at Saguaro NP. They dropped me on the big hill, but that's okay- I'm used to it I ventured on to enjoy some of the roads on Tucson's far east side, including one of the steeper hills in the area, to the end of the pavement on Reddington Pass road. I thought of you , luv2climb) - gets over 12% but only half a mile long. It was my first ride since last Sunday's century, and today is supposed to be windy so I probably will stay home. I have 4 days off next week and the weather should be pretty nice.

[Grasshoppergirl]

First Metric Century of the year here. Had a bright and sunny day at 41 in the morning and up to 60 at the end. Oh...but the wind! Up to 30 mph. Big loop through blossoming almond orchards and into the rolling foothills. Team mate estimated 47 miles of headwind. Seems about right to me.

[Sky King]

Okay so not exactly a "ride, ride" but new brewery grand opening about 5 miles from the house so off we went, cold, windy and spitting snow but took the MUP along the river. Of course as our other favorite brewery was in the neighborhood, we had to go there as well Heading home is was now dark, cold and windy, came around a corner and a huge tree had fallen across the bike path so we got to do some lifting and climbing. But as always, riding in the dark with the DH is always a pleasure and the beer wasn't too bad either.