August 23-25 Weekend Bike Rides

[Catrin]

I will start

Yesterday I experimented with a very brief ride with my hydration pack to see if my neurological symptoms would return. I ONLY had water in the pack and had everything else on my rack. 30 minutes was golden - no problems As it was supposed to be a rest day after 3 days of HARD workouts, I called it good.

Today I expanded that to a 13 mile ride that took a bit over an hour - our coach wants us to get 1-3 "long and low cardio output" sessions a week (HR in the second zone). That helps get my lazy azz out the door. I ALSO replaced my beloved Frogs with my Sunringle ZuZu pedals - it seemed worth an experiment since I am not riding near as hard or as long as I once did. THAT was a mistake!

All of a sudden I didn't feel in control of my bike when I stopped, at one point I was in the big gear at 18mph on the flats when BOTH of my feet came off at the same time. I think I am so accustomed to being attached that I no longer focus on keeping that contact between shoes and pedal. Some will remember that I put several thousand miles on those pedals before moving to Frogs (LHT days) and I had more trouble today than I ever did then. My knee was also cranky - which was why I moved to clipless, and Fogs in particular, to begin with. To cut it short, I kept my bike under control, didn't crash, and slowed down while focusing on that shoe/pedal contact.

I had a great ride notheless, and the Frogs are going back on tomorrow I wanted to trail run today, but trying to loosen up a tight calf.

[Crankin]

I feel the same way when I ride without clipless pedals, Catrin. I alnost killed myself while I was doing a 4 mile commute to the train station a few years ago... I was on my way to class at grad school and did not want to lug my cycling shoes around with me all day. Not only did both of my feel fly off the pedals on a long straight a way (I had dual sided pedals on that bike), I had stopped to make a left at a very busy angled intersection in our town center, and whoops, my foot went flying as I started to accelerate, with cars all around me. DH makes fun of me, but I have to concentrate too much on keeping my foot on the pedals with the flat ones.
So, we got home last night from Italy, and all I can think about is that I missed 10 days of perfect riding weather. I have hardly any miles this year and I am supposed to do a century on 9/22. I'll be riding today!

[Catrin]

I would like to leave them on as urban riding is a bit more complicated with being clipped in...but I will stay with that works for me Apparently I can't swing between the clipless/platform camps any more!

[redrhodie]

I rode for about an hour an a half, up to Portsmouth. It was nice, quiet and cool. I needed arm warmers. It was the first ride I didn't get passed in a long time. I don't really care about getting passed, but it is nice when it doesn't happen.

[OakLeaf]

I started out with the club yesterday. They were doing a hilly 55, but I'm nowhere near in shape for that, even if I'm starting to be optimistic about being able to do it again someday. I turned aside after about 11, and one guy came back with me. We got a couple of nice hills - would've liked to do a couple more, but he was having awful trouble with cramps, so we opted for the bike path when we came to it. Just 22 miles, but it felt really good to be out there, and it left my legs nice and fresh for today's run.

[Crankin]

Ack, I was so looking forward to today's ride. I ended up doing 21 miles, of painful agony. I am chalking it up to jet lag, but I felt awful the whole time. My average was only about half a mile slower than usual, but the horrible fatigue and generally crap feeling did not go away, as it usually does. DH dropped me at the end and I rode about 5.5 mph up the hill.
On the bright side, it's a gorgeous day out.
I guess this is the year that wasn't for me. The last time this happened a few years ago, at least I lost my appetite, too, so less riding didn't matter much. Nothing's wrong there, so I will carry on!