I Did It

[LovesFrance]

I hit the halfway mark--a 25-mile ride yesterday! I feel terrific. (OK, somewhat less because I also had my first collision, but I'm just a little scraped.) Muscle-wise, this old broad (41!) did it!
Now, I have to start trying to imagine doing 50 miles!!!

[elevenpointfive]

You go, girl! Keep at it and 50 will be down before you know it. No more collisions, though, okay? What happened? How's your bike?

[Kpicha]

Cool! 25 miles! At about what point did you start getting tired? I'd hate to be 25 miles out and not have any energy to get back.

Sorry about your collision. I hope you were't going too fast and everything is okay now.

Cheers,
Kristina

[Irulan]

25 miles on the road is way different than 25 on mtb trails...

Irulan

[elevenpointfive]

Okay, now I'm confused (and possibly blind, if this was already specified): LovesFrance, did you ride 25 miles road, or MTB?

[Kpicha]

Originally posted by elevenpointfive
Okay, now I'm confused (and possibly blind, if this was already specified): LovesFrance, did you ride 25 miles road, or MTB?

Me too, I thought she meant road Either way, its good to get out and push yourself to your limits

Cheers,
Kristina

[elevenpointfive]

Yeah. Hey, LovesFrance, get back in here and help us out! And, of course, congratulations either way.

[LovesFrance]

Oh, GEEZ, 25 miles on the road. (we have a wonderful bike pike that goes along the river.) I'm too chicken to do MTBing...

As for the collision: A young girl on her bike stopped ahead of me, at an entrance to the path from the street. She was partially blocking the entrance, where there is a barricade on half the path. (her stupid father thought this was OK???) I saw my DH get through OK, so I kept going, but--thankfully--slowed a bit. Well, a really big, muscly, quite cute (actually) guy came up the other way and I was run off the path and into the girl's bike. (She was fine.) My bike is fine. I got a bruised hip and bruised inner thigh (where it hit the seat, very close to the old private parts--ouch!) and scraped shins, but I was fine.

The thing is: All the riding I have been doing increased my confidence on the bike, now I'm back to being timid.

KPICHA...I started to drag a bit at about halfway mark, but we stopped and had energy bars and a short break. I was slowing down for the last 5 or so miles, but I ate again and it perked me right up. I am more convinced than ever that distance riding is about food and determination.

[aka_kim]

Bike paths are dangerous (seriously!). Rule of thumb: yield to everyone.

I'm always most afraid of young kids learning to ride and dogs on extra-long leashes. But the trails are multi-use, and from others' perspective they don't particularly like cyclists whizzing by at 15+ mph either.

So next time, ignore whatever your DH does and yield to the little kids, and the seniors with canes, and the dogs, and the big family on a leisurely stroll, and the squirrels, and so on....

And, oh yeah, keep eating -- when you're working out it's all fuel.

[Dogmama]

I read somewhere that we run into each other more often than we run into cars. Bike paths are treacherous!! I avoid them during high use (e.g., weekend mornings). The worst = in-line skaters with walkmans.

For energy - try a drink called Cytomax. It is hands down the best fuel for the bike, IMHO. I take three water bottles - 2 with water and one with Cytomax. You should be able to get it at a bike shop or health food store. It doesn't buzz me out like gatorade type products, but gives me a good pump.

Keep riding!

Kim

[Trek420]

"I'm always most afraid of young kids learning to ride and dogs on extra-long leashes."

I've had no problem with dogs (so far)

Kids can be the worst on bike trails; you say "on your left" they GO left...right into you.

Ok, so now I'll say a friendly "hi, good morning" kid is startled and plows right towards me.

Next one heading towards you they look right at you and kareen into you. It's a coordination thing they don't have yet.

Turn a sharp corner at 15 mph and there's Mommy and Daddy with 2.5 kids and "look at the ducky!" and all 4.5 bikes are strewn across the trail.

The worst is right after Christmas they're all out there wobbling with the new bike that doesn't fit....

I love it that they are bike riding, that part is great but you never know what they will do and you have to assume the worst. So I gear down and concentrate on my spin because it's rare I'll get up a good head of steam.

I love my local bike trails, favorites are on the Bay Trail, so scenic but I'll take cars anyday over rollerblades and kids

[zen_grrl]

I've found that dogs are the biggest hassle on trails. Part of my commute to work is a favoured spot for all the local dog walkers to give "Spot" a bit of exercise. I nearly got taken out the other day by a dog that had decided to carry a branch (I'm serious - this was no mere stick) with it on its adventures. I've discovered that going past them without causing a fuss (although slowing down quite a bit) is the best way to keep out of their way. But this one heard me at the last minute and came to investigate what I was, branch and all! Made for an interesting skid, as it had been raining and the tarmac was wet - emerged unscathed though which was a relief.

[Veronica]

I'm getting a great mental image out of your story. It gave me a chuckle.

Veronica