June 5 Ride reports

[Fredwina]

I did my usual 13 mile moring route. The Only noticeable things is that the "June Gloom"(morning fog) appeared. It did make for a cooler ride, albiet without the views.

[DrBee]

No ride this morning - woke up too late. Hopefully I'll be able to slip in a short ride after work.

[uk elephant]

Went for a quick mid-day ride as procrastination when I should be writing my thesis. Started the day off with a trip to the nearby bike shop for a new inner tube (old one broke when I wanted to go for a ride yesterday) and also some tire lining thingies so I don't get so many punctures. The streets and paths in this town are covered in broken glass. So around lunch-time I was itching to go out and enjoy the sunshine and test out my newly repared tires. Did a short ride along the river, 8 miles total, and tried to keep my speed up. For some reason, no matter how hard I feel like I'm pedalling I can never get my average speed above 12mph. I'm not trying to set any speed records, but would like to be cruising a bit faster so that I can cover more distance in the time that I have for riding. I guess I'll just have to keep training. But for now, I suppose I should get back to that thesis that needs to be written.....my goal is to defend before AidsRide next year and celebrate with a big ride.....

[makbike]

I spent the morning/afternoon mapping out a 35 mile route for the club ride I am hosting on Friday. I rode it yesterday but it only came to 31.5 miles. I woke up sometime through the night thinking about how to get some extra miles in to edge it closer to the 35 mile mark. I came up with a possible new start and decided to give it a go today. The new start did just the trick adding on 2.2 miles. I decided since I was out and about to ride the whole route, again and double check milage. It was a great day to ride, lots of sunshine, a mild breeze and beautiful farm country to see. I felt much stronger (average 15.4 mph), both mentally and physically today than I did yesterday so maybe the blues I've been battling since losing my cat Max on Friday are lifting. Now it is time to mow the yard and give the dogs their long overdue bath.

[fatbottomedgurl]

"June Gloom" HOORAY! (For those non-SoCal girls, this is an atmospheric condition caused by the cold air coming off the ocean and encountering the warm air inland. It causes a rather heavy overcast that lasts from dawn until anywhere between 9:00 am til noon. Later at the beaches. So if you want to visit and enjoy a sunny beach, don't come in June.)

[Geonz]

You can always rationalize that a good ride helps your focus, UK elephant! Balance, after all, healthy balance of activities...

I rode out the regular commute (which is reasonably nice between school sessoins!) and came back the longest route ever, and tho' the computer's busted most of the miles on the grid took fewer than four minutes, which I needed to do to get all 36 miles in and be back in time for the LEague of Illinois Bicyclists' conference call.

Still hoping I don't regret the decision to take Big Red on GITAP. (And, depending on whether disk brake parts come in and what my mechanic says, *maybe* I'll change my mind if he thinks I shouldn't do the big hills with the regular brakes. Any thoughts? The brakes *scream* at me, which is nice when I'm commuting but I'm not looking forward to downhills...) But I'll have all day and it's been lubricated and I can get into granny gear now! Reckon I'll need it to get a 45 pound bike up those Galena Hills...