august rides

[marni]

Saturday, since Texas and or Houston were in the midst of a "cold spell" (at least that was what everybody was calling it) I did a brisk 40 mile ride out of Sealy, Texas in 75 degree, cloudy weather with the humidity at about 60%. There were some rollers and a bit of wind which made a nice change.

Today I did an early 36 miles in 90 degree mixed sun and clouds and a bit of a breeze. On my usual training route which is flat except for a couple of very small swells. The temperature was 91 and the humidity was 66% and I was melting. What a contrast. I am really looking forward to fall.

[emily_in_nc]

D'oh -- I've posted my last few rides in the July thread...one month just blends into another, I guess!

Today was a much-needed day off after a toughish ride yesterday and a terrible night of sleep. One of those nights when the brain just doesn't want to turn off, and my nighttime coughing (due to asthma) was happening. Finally had to get up and use my inhaler, which just made it harder to sleep. There's a lot of dust in the air recently from the wheat harvest, so I am thinking that's what triggered the wheezing (which leads to coughing at night).

[azfiddle]

I was going to start this the other day then got distracted.

I truly enjoyed Saturday's climb up Mt. Lemmon. It was my longest climb of the season- I made it to the Windy Point Vista at mile 14, and about 4100 feet of climbing from the car. There was a threat of rain all morning, but the overcast sky and a bit of a tail wind made the last couple miles less of a challenge. I would have gone further but my husband was tired from riding intervals up and down the mountain and I barely got him to do the last couple of miles. It never seriously rained- just a bit of drizzle and some breezy spots.

Did a solo ride on Sunday to Saguaro NP and back, plus the 8 mile loop, but on my Surly. Definitely slower, but I'm trying to work out anything else I need to figure out before we do another bike-camping expedition this fall.

[emily_in_nc]

Congratulations azfiddle -- after driving up Mt. Lemmon, I know what a climb that is. Daunting! I wish I'd been a bit better trained when we were Tucson in Feb. so we could have tried it. After riding on coastal flat roads in Dec. and January, when weather permitted, I just wasn't ready to attempt something like Mt. Lemmon. We did ride the Sagauro NP East loop a couple of times towards the end of the month (fun except the one long climb midway in) and Pistol Hill a couple of times as well. But neither of them is a mountain.

[Crankin]

I also posted my last ride in the July thread. Duh.
I led a ride tonight. Actually, I was the sweep. I never have been on an AMC night time ride. The Tuesday series is the "slower" one, and usually I wouldn't do it, because 1) there can be some very inexperienced riders, especially early in the season, and 2) usually, I'm working until 6. But, my friend (the one who always gets lost) was leading, it started from his house, which is is in the next town, and I was done with work at 2:00.
Only 16 miles and not as slow as I thought. There was still a lot of traffic as we headed out from his house in Bedford, but we soon got into quieter country. Even a very tiny stretch of dirt in a neighborhood I've ridden through. It was really nice out, although solar glare in some spots, and other spots really shady and dark. At the end, the 2 people in front of me missed a turn, into an office park. I reeled them in, and then we got a bit lost. My GPS was telling me the right way, but these people weren't believing me. Finally, we got on the right track, I knew we were almost back, but it was getting dark and they did not have lights. Worst of all, these 2 are leaders, and they were so slow, I could have been back at Jack's in 2 minutes, but they were just like, socializing, and struggling up little inclines. But, I waited, they finally got it, that I was correct in my directions, and they thanked me. All I could think about is that the guy is someone my very close friend used to lead with in the early 90's and he was known for "naked hot tub parties," on weekend trips. I guessed he must have burned himself out! Had a glass of wine when I got back to Jack's and then went home and ate.

[Crankin]

Now I know why I don't ride at 6 PM... I had a lot of trouble falling asleep last night! I remember this from when i first started going to the gym in the 80s.
Anyway, I rode with Jack today and my body was telling me, "no." Good thing, his was, too, but for him, it just means less miles. He rides everyday, unless it rains and one day a week, he just rides to the senior center to play pool, 6 miles. Of course, when I just ride my 5.2 mile commute, I generally feel like I've ridden, although it varies. He met me at the bottom of my street (his comment is that my driveway is "hors category") and told me we were not doing the 35 mile ride we had discussed. All in all, just familiar streets through Carlisle and Chelmsford, although a couple of them, I've only been on with him or in a group. We actually got on the bike path for a bit, too. It started out partly sunny and humid, but near the end, it was cloudy and there was a nice breeze. We did stop at Ferns for coffee, sat on the porch, and gossiped about the people on the ride last night. We parted after the coffee and I rode the 7 miles home, rather speedily.
23 miles, exactly, I am glad I did it, but I've had a headache all day, I think from some neck and shoulder issues that started on Monday after I used a heavier bar to lift at boot camp.
Going to the gym tomorrow and I am resting on Friday, for sure. I haven't had a total rest day in about 10 days.

[brigada]

When I'm in the mood for demanding rides, I climb a nearby mountain. I usually do a road climb (10 kms of road, 1100 m elevation gain), but this time I decided it was time to tackle the climb via a singletrack path in the woods. It is much steeper than the road and the route is much more direct - only 5.5 kms, but the average grade is 10.6%. I was very pleased for the first time with 80 minutes it took for me to climb all the way up.

And SPD just keeps proving its worth on the climbs. I was able to climb up steep sections covered in roots that I never would have guessed were doable.

I'm sure it doesn't sound like much to the more seasoned riders around here, but having gone from zero workout in years to riding seriously just four months ago, I keep being amazed at my progress. And I'm pretty sure I'm hooked on this amazing sport for good

[marni]

50 miles yesterday at 14.9 mph and temps in the high 80's. 38 miles today at 95 = and a5.9. The heat is making me strong. or I am so miserable that I am riding faster just to get out of it! And lets not even mention the sweat rings all over the garage and the humidity.

[Jolt]

40 miles today, average speed 13.4 mph, with a climb of Mt. Agamenticus (not really a mountain, but a good sized hill in the town of York). Elevation gain on the road up Mt. A is 896 feet, average 10% grade but up to 14%. Pretty small stuff compared to the climbs some of you do, but was a challenge for me. I was in my lowest gear most of the way, but didn't have to get off and walk. Need to remember the bug spray next time...there were lots of those annoying small bugs that like to fly right in one's face, and I couldn't go fast enough up the hill to drop them! On the way home a thunderstorm blew through so I ducked into a little farmstand store which had all kinds of good stuff; I had a raspberry-oatmeal square, an all-natural soda and tried some of their cheeses, jams and salsas that they had out for sampling. I will definitely have to go back there prepared to bring some things home. Once the storm had passed, the rest of the ride home was pretty uneventful although I have some tweaking to do on the bike since getting the thick-soled cycling shoes which required me to raise the saddle about an inch...my neck and upper back were getting uncomfortable either from a) having more weight on my hands because the saddle is now higher in relation to the bars, or b) having a little more reach because I did not move the saddle forward at all when I adjusted the height. I had no such discomfort before the shoe/resulting saddle height change, including on my 50-miler two months ago which I did in my very thin-soled Merrells, so I know that is the culprit. If tweaking saddle position doesn't solve the problem I guess the next step will be a stem with a little more rise, which will be annoying since I just changed the stem this spring (when I got the bike).

[emily_in_nc]

We've had a windy few days, and although the temperatures have been more reasonable, I think I prefer the heat and light winds to this. At least I haven't had a flat for the past few days.

Yesterday: 52.2 miles
Today 36.6 miles

Tomorrow -- utility ride to recycling place, farmer's market, and grocery. Short and sweet!

[Raindrop]

I must be a lightweight these days because you are all doing a whole lot more than me. I try and get out in the mornings before I have appointments, but even then, I only average about 26 miles a day.

My high point this week? My son is going through a divorce and I only get to see my grandkids for 1 1/2 days one week, and 3-4 days the next. Well, I often ride on the other side of our city and i was riding past a park where I knew the grandkids sometimes went with their babysitter. (no, I'm not a stalker). Anyway, I glanced down to the playground structure and saw several small children with some adults. As I rode closer I saw my grandson and his babysitter, (after seeing it wasn't "stranger-danger') yelled, "Hey! It's Bobbi! (My grandmother name)....Both kids (my grandson and my grand-daughter came running over. Hugging me they said, "yuck! you're really sweaty". The babysitter asked why I was so far from home and I just told her that the east side of town was more bike friendly in that there are a lot of bike lanes. My side of town has older roads with huge drop-offs and a lot of people that don't really like it if you take your lane,

Anyway, seeing my "angels" on an off day was sweet!!!

Adding that my picture is my grandson!

[cosc]

Cons: Headwinds for the first 3 days.
Putting tent up in the rain on the 1st day. A wet night in the tent.
3 nights of shredded pork or beef sandwiches.

Pros: Beautiful scenic country including flats-rolling hills-steeper hills, corn, soybean, sunflower, and flax fields-many small to large lakes and the Missouri river.
Around 200 great people
Very good support
Bike ride averaged 67 miles per day.
A loop ride.

I went solo to this N. Dakota ride and had a fun week. The route was close to the Missouri River. The cons were mostly controlled by Mother Nature. Tent service is available and I would of paid a lot for it the rainy evening.
Port-a-potties are adorned with geese dressed in their finest apparel. A beautiful thing in the middle of the prairie!
I'll try to get out of my comfort zone to attach some pictures.

Fun rock-n- roll rest stop with yummy oatmeal with all the fixings:


Port-a-Potty on the prairie:



North Dakota roads are rumble strip happy with a middle strip too. Blue is a beautiful flax field that looks like water.


My tent at fairgrounds with abandoned carnival rides:




Sunflower field with Missouri River in background:

[cosc]

A few more pics to share:

Close to Bismark with low ground fog over river :




Quad riders that have participated in many Candisc tours.



Celebration at the end:

[Crankin]

I rode 19.5 miles with 2 of my riding friends from the 2 clubs I belong to. I just am losing the will to drive far for a group ride. So, one of these guys doesn't drive and lives near me and is usually a willing riding partner. The other lives in Cambridge and comes out here to ride. He's about 76, and had a bad crash 2 years ago. Since then, he can't ride more than 25 miles, and he said he's working on "not trying to ride at 18." Thing is, he says he gets exhausted, and he is really struggling on hills. We paced him, riding at an average of 13.5 and he still was struggling on the hills. I am wondering if he's having cardiac issues and doesn't know it. Anyway, it was fun, though. Was getting quite hot, got to 91 yesterday, so we stuck to our little loop in Concord and then went for coffee when we got back to where he was parked. I kind of wanted to ride longer, but, the heat and having stuff to do on my day off made me ride home!

[thekarens]

So pretty Irulan!