August 19 Ride Reports

[Kitsune06]

... it IS the 19th, isn't it?

Woke up sorta sickish, but the new brooks saddle called "TRY ME!!!!" so I couldn't refuse. On my way out, I spoke to the guy on the end of our street who always has his dog running loose. Like the sap I am, I empathised, his dog being out only when she's not kennelled, and he's had her kenneled far more than she should be out of fear that she'd tear into my bike. The dog is for security as people tend to break into cars etc on our road. (why? no idea.) so a fence would be useless. He tells me to get off the bike address her by name (Sassy) and tell her to 'go home'. This is what I've been doing, and it works, but I wanted to talk to him. We worked out a schedule that she can be out any time after 3 b/c that's generally when I'm at work, so no biggie. That's best for them, too, because she can still be a night guard dog and guard 'her' kids, too.
I was going to haul about 7 miles to my bank (it's about 7 miles to either of the banks I go to. Yay for the boonies) but got about 5ish and started realizing the hills were quickly becoming too much for my delicate stomach to handle. Drank water, sat down, cooled off. Turned around. There was road construction, and though I didn't think about it on the way down, it occurred to me on the way back that this construction was RIGHT ON A BIG HILL. not 'at the top of the hill' but the stop sign holding person was at the BASE of the hill, and the other person at the TOP. GRUH. So the lady at the bottom cheers me on as I hammer up the whole hill, and the lady at the top claps, then tells me "Way to go! ...Seriously, do that in a car- it's easier!" My sarcasm detector went off, but my finger reflexes were overtaken by the fact that I think I was having a full on asthma attack (I think... from what 've heard they're like, that's what this was- breathing in gasps not getting air and making a little whistling noise while my chest is heaving) I coast and focus on slowing my breathing down so I don't puke in front of the people who'd just waited for me in their cars. Get to the bottom of the hill, park bike, drink water, arms over head, expand rib cage. *gasp!* So I start breathing again and at this point I'm just too tired to do anything anymore. Coast home... feel better, but still want to lay down.
On the upside, the saddle didn't cause any problems...

[Geonz]

Whew@!! Got me gasping in sympathy.

Yesterday on my trip over the overpass, a RED SPORTS CAR waited behind me 'til I was over the top (okay, it was a HOnda at least, so *all* my stereotypes haven't been busted) and then passed me demurely.

Today the Saturday Saunter went to Curtis Orchard -it opens in late July. We went 23 miles, a *little* long, but it's (ack!!!!) getting to the end of the "official" season wehre I'm responsible for a level 1 ride. (Most of the group went on to Mahomet for a 30+ mile ride with breakfast).

Next week I"m planning to ride to Bloomington - about 50 miles - for the League of Illinois Bicylist's meeting. Got the cell phone... have to figure out what else to be sure to have along for a solo ride in the boonies (water, water, water) 'cause no, I'm not taking 150 (the busy parallel-to-the-interstate road) until the halfway point.

[Kitsune06]

I actually get a big kick out of being really courteous to bikers while I'm in my little sports car, thumping music. They always look at me with such surprise. "You didn't try to run me over?!"
...sad that things are that way, though...

[melissam]

I hear ya both! I love to be especially nice to people when I drive my Porsche, because it's the last thing they expect. Most Porsche 911 drivers really don't want to uphold the Crazy Porsche Driver reputation, but unfortunately there's a few that ruin it for the rest of us.

Anyway, I went for a ride today. I went from cycling bliss to being a bit frustrated. I was trying out my new Vredestein Fortezza tires on the road bike. Boy they felt great! The tread is really sticky -- kind of like the tread on my Porsche tires. The bike just wanted to go -- up hills, down hills, it didn't matter. And the Brooks saddle on my road bike is pretty much broken in, and that felt great too. I was feeling so good that I did a couple of hill repeats.

And then I got a flat tire. Rear tire, of course. Oh well, I have the tools and ability to fix a flat. But it sure is different fixing one on the side of the road than in the comfort of your garage. For instance, you can't sip a beer as you're fixing the flat on the side of the road. And there's no good place to sit. And the trusty floor pump is not around, so you're stuck with the frame pump.

Got the tube patched, started to air it up to see if it would hold, and killed the valve stem. #&@%!! Put the spare tube on, got the tire re-seated, and started pumping. And pumping. And pumping. Still feels soft. Oh, and somewhere along the line I got a metal sliver in my thumb, so everytime I hit it just right, it gave me a friendy reminder. Great. Still pumping. Hmm, let's check the pressure guage to see how much pressure I have. Try not to lose too much air when you put the pressure guage on, because it's hard work getting the air in there! Oh, the pressure guage's battery is dead. Nice. Put the pump back on and keep pumping, but be careful -- you don't want to kill another valve stem.

I got it pumped up to about 40psi -- the Vredestein's call for 145psi. Low pressure is practically begging for another flat. Limped back to the car, trying to keep as much weight off the rear tire as possible.

Take home lessons:

1. Get a Topeak Road Morph pump -- it's TE Forum approved.
2. Carry the frame pump in the car.
3. Carry extra tubes in the car.

Kitsune, hope you feel better and don't encounter any more sarcastic road workers.

-- Melissa

[mimitabby]

Well, the DH and i went on a wild and crazy ride today; 33.6 miles of you gotta love seattle stuff. We started up near logboom park as soon as we escaped from a 10 year wedding anniversary party (they were longwinded) and so it was already hot when we went out (no, not hot like new york, florida or arizona hot, but hot for us.)
So we sailed south on the burke gilman trail, then we went down fairview E
on the east side of lake union, and then D took me into the neighborhood (where restauraants and fairly rich people live right off the lake. We traipsed down that until it dead ended and then i had to go up a really steep hill but only 1 block. We rode all the way into downtown, where zillions of cars and pedestrians were.The bike shop was there; and while dh talked to the owner of the lbs about his bike to be, i noticed that my 4 year old helmet had a crack in it! so i found a cute orange helmet
which was http://tinyurl.com/qz58q
also inexpensive. DH hated it and picked up a 200 dollar helmet (no, i don't think so) but it was NOT as comfy as the bell (I have a BELL head apparently) so I am as pleased as punch to be getting a new ORANGE helmet
and the cheaper one too (okay, i'm a cheapskate)
well, we finallly finished all our transactions (Including I have an appt on friday for the Eva handlebars and new yellow tape for them!)
we got back on the bikes and headed towards the waterfront, which is normally a lovely ride on a fairly peaceful bike trail. Well, we found our selves in a SEA of people. Really young people. REALLY YOUNG, lots of them.
I finally asked a teenaged girl what was going on. She acted confused (maybe she was high?) DH finally figured it out, it was HEMPFEST!!!
he turned his bike around and we walked all the way back to the street
and took busy streets back to the Burke Gilman!

It's the longest i've ever ridden on my Bianchi and we just flew!
our average was only 12.8 but DH said it's because of how far we WALKED THE BIKES through the doper crowd!!

a good time was had by all.
mimi

[DDH]

Well, DH and I got out and rode today about 4 in the afternoon and about died for the heat and humitdity. We only rode about 10 miles, but that 10 miles about spent us with this heat. It was a good ride though. After being sick for a week, I am just glad to get back out there and able to ride. LOL

Oh, DH and I went to the LBS yesterday to look at tires and DH bought me some new tires for my mountain bike. He bought me some slicker tires to use to hopefully help my time and rolling resistance. It helped quite a bit acutallyl. I have been riding about 9 something to 10 somthing on my Avg speed. Fastest time I have had has been 11.1. Well tonight I avg. 12.5 and then it went down to 12.1 on the hill right before the house. LOL
Anyway, I like the lower rolling resistance.