October 3 Rides

[Fredwina]

I bought some batteries to make my light nice and bright. did some climbing, since that appears to be most affected by my recovery from my fracture. I'd liek even better when we got back To "normal" time. That way, I can finish my ride in the Daylight!

[Haudlady]

Today is my first full commute on my new bike! I cut a full ten minutes on my ride in - my road bike is much faster than my MTB. I wonder how long it will take me to get home... it's an uphill ride!

It was very foggy, so I was glad to have my "blinky" lights on. I hate these shortening days - I'm not sure how long into the season I will be able to commute safely.

I (still) love my new bike!

[Geonz]

Yay!!! Welcome to commutersville!

Lights are good

When my lights are going, someitmes I think I'm more visible in the night than the day.

I was early today, but still saw this guy - I will have to bring the camera - who goes by me on his bike, with crutches diagonally across his back... his right foot is in a walking cast. Reckon he's pedaling *hard* with his left foot?

[7rider]

Did my last commute/ride before the Century on Saturday. 14.5 miles at around 13 mph or so. Kept the HR fairly low and the cadance high. Or tried to at any rate.
I'm seriously considering heading to the local drugstore for Ebsom Salts so I can sit in a hot bath tonight (and each night for the next 3 days) and try to relax all these kinks out of my body! Achey, knotty back. Achey, knotty left hip. And, just as puzzling as the hip, achey knotty right calf! My chiro was working the knots out yesterday and will try again tomorrow.
But still, today I had zero pepper in my legs, especially on the hills. I took it easy, tried to spin, but on some of the hills, I just stood up, and - ugh! - my legs felt like I was at the tail end of a 70 mile ride! So...no more riding or I'll never finish my century...never mind try to finish in 5 hours of riding!!

[light_sabe_r]

On my way home today and BF and I thought we'd take a longer route to get some extra kms in.

halfway through a gorgeous commute I stacked it.

Hit the TINIEST pot hole which put me into a wobble. I can remember putting the brakes on which locked up my front wheel and jumping off the seat and puttin my feet down. The momentum must've kept me and the back of the bike going cause I went straight over the handle bars. Hit my head on the ground,(thank god Helmets are the LAW here) got gravel rash on left shoulder and knee. And my bike fell on me too!

After screaming out 4 letter words and other bad words, I started to get up.

I got help from a whole heap of international students, As I'd stacked it in front of Shafston University, (which teaches ENGLISH mainly)

So BF came back and made sure I wasn't concust.
"What's the 3 different types of HSPGS!" (my project at work)
"Syndecan, Glypican, Perlecan!"

I was fine.

DAMAGE BILL

1 Wheel needs to be trued,
the 9 and 1 on my quick change gears have been wiped off.
1 smashed helmet
shoulder scrape
Bruised calf
scraped knee
headache

But other than that I'm totally fine. Pissed that I gotta catch the bus today on "RIDE YOUR BIKE TO WORK DAY" though.... When I RIDE every other freaking day! SOOOO not fair.

btw... Round trip yesturday. 17.5km. >_<

[Tater]

I was early today, but still saw this guy - I will have to bring the camera - who goes by me on his bike, with crutches diagonally across his back... his right foot is in a walking cast. Reckon he's pedaling *hard* with his left foot?

Either that or he had a cleat on the bottom of his cast!

Nice quiet commute in. At least it wasn't as tasty as last night's ride home! Some little flying bug hit my bottom lip and I swear, that was the most bitter, foul tasting bug I ever had the chance to taste! Blech! I had to stop and swish with water to try to get the taste out. Didn't work though. Went the last eight miles grimacing and spitting every chance I got.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think I got to a slightly better strength level today.
Friday we did a nice 20 miler with varied hills. Sat we rested (busy). Sunday I did a 13 mile ride with a girlfriend. Monday DH and I did a 18 mile MULTIPLE KILLER HILL route which really did me in bigtime, though I made it by walking half of those awful hills. (see Oct 2 rides).
After that ride, I devoured a HUGE plate of carbs and protein, l-o-n-g hot shower, then crashed in to bed at 9pm, exhausted, and I slept for TEN solid hours like a log. (!!) I must have been building muscles in my sleep, because...

This morning I got up feeling great and went out for a lovely morning ride I do often when I want just a short ride- 11 miles of country roads with a few moderate hills. (DH calls the route "Sweetie's Favorite")
Anyway, I have to say that something had changed- the ride felt suddenly really easy, I felt stronger, and I didn't have to go into my lowest gear on some of the hills where I always have had to do that before. So COOL! That's a real measurable difference that can't be attributed to imagination. My reward for toughing out that KILLER HILL ride I guess, even despite all the walking I did up the hills.
I'm so happy!!

[Geonz]

Yay
It's all relative!
Bottom line: keep riding, you get stronger. You go girl! Hills, schmills...

saber... oh, MYYY!!! at least you're coherent... if a tad obsessed with that project

[btchance]

Nice short ride to get some frustations out. Loved it, perfect weather, new pair of shorts that were quite comfy , what more could you ask for, except for it to have been longer.

[mimitabby]

Today I took my Veloce out in the rain. Needless to say, we were NOT veloce (this means fast in italian)

It's the first time I ever rode THIS bike in the rain, i want you to understand.
I rode 4 miles to the library and back to get a book.

Now that school's back in session, it is really aggravating to drive this particular route, because of all the school buses. On the bike, it was an entirely different
4 miles.

My DH put a rear fender on my bike so i didnt' get rain spattered.

and MY LEGS are like lead!!! from the race the other day. It's a good thing
no one else was with me...

[liberty]

Today was my first day back on my normal route since I tanked it with two dogs two months ago; but I felt it was time to face everything and see how well my body has recovered. I was dreading it, since I (1) haven't ridden hills for two straight months, (2) was worried about running into the dogs again, and (3) was trying the route with my clippless pedals for the first time ever. And I have to say that all three things kicked my booty... ALL my cardio ability and strength for hills is AWOL, the dogs found me again, and I ran into some road construction and was initiated into the "first clipless fall" club. It was an interesting experience to see myself falling down while cars pass beside my head... And as far as the dogs, the owner came out and yelled at the dogs, which did no good whatsoever. I got off the bike in order to avoid the crash scenario again, but no one tells you what to do after you get off the bike!!!

So all in all, I was able to face three giants and arrive back at my house safely, though a triffle banged up... The weather is awesome right now! And it was great to feel free on my bike again. I shortened the ride down to 7.6 miles due to time constraints. But it was a good 7 miles. Can't wait to do it again!

[Kano]

Tater's bugs were still flying tonight -- DH and I were covered in them, or something similar when we went out today!

Fifteen miles, and boy did it feel good! Been slacking the last few weeks, and spending my mornings thinking, a little later, when it warms up, then getting busy and missing the ride, followed by that lazy, day's almost over feeling. You know how it goes! So, today, I put on my bike clothes before DH came home, aired up the tires, and waited. Well, not exactly -- I got some stuff done while waiting, but then had to interrupt myself to go on the ride. I'm glad I did -- even though I haven't gotten back to what I was doing yet!

DH said "short ride" -- I said, oh fine. Then, while we were out, I detoured a bit.... NOOOOOOOOOOO he said, but followed anyway. My nemesis invisible hill was GREAT today, though it beat him up a bit. Fun coming back down it, though: 31 mph! Too fast to pedal without it being scary! I found another detour, again he howled, but went along anyway. He went home after that, though, while I went on down the hill that takes us into town, just so I could ride back up it. Now there's a first for me: deliberately going down a hill, just to be able to ride up again!

Karen in Boise

[Cassandra_Cain]

Is it just me or are the days absolutely getting shorter at an entirely too zippy pace? ack!!!

Went to ride directly after work (no stopping, no passing go either ) to Tramway hill.

Warmed up for a nice 20 minutes, then did 2 x 20 minutes @ L4, with 6 minutes of rest in between. The first climb put a hurt on me - I wonder if I should have warmed up a bit harder to prepare myself for the effort. The second one was much better and my pace was much more consistent.

Good thing too as a few minutes of cool-down riding put me distinctly in twilight. Going to order the indoor trainer later this week and buckle done for some serious work in my indoor 'labratory'.

Oh summer, how I miss thee..

[Cassandra_Cain]

On my way home today and BF and I thought we'd take a longer route to get some extra kms in.

halfway through a gorgeous commute I stacked it.

Hit the TINIEST pot hole which put me into a wobble. I can remember putting the brakes on which locked up my front wheel and jumping off the seat and puttin my feet down. The momentum must've kept me and the back of the bike going cause I went straight over the handle bars. Hit my head on the ground,(thank god Helmets are the LAW here) got gravel rash on left shoulder and knee. And my bike fell on me too!

After screaming out 4 letter words and other bad words, I started to get up.

I got help from a whole heap of international students, As I'd stacked it in front of Shafston University, (which teaches ENGLISH mainly)

So BF came back and made sure I wasn't concust.
"What's the 3 different types of HSPGS!" (my project at work)
"Syndecan, Glypican, Perlecan!"

I was fine.

DAMAGE BILL

1 Wheel needs to be trued,
the 9 and 1 on my quick change gears have been wiped off.
1 smashed helmet
shoulder scrape
Bruised calf
scraped knee
headache

But other than that I'm totally fine. Pissed that I gotta catch the bus today on "RIDE YOUR BIKE TO WORK DAY" though.... When I RIDE every other freaking day! SOOOO not fair.

btw... Round trip yesturday. 17.5km. >_<

Oh no~! Sorry to hear about this, but glad you are OK.

[uk elephant]

Finally back on the bike after a week of life getting in the way (such as a trip to Norway to celebrate dad's 60th birthday in Hell! Good fun despite the awful live music). Cycled half way home from work, as I try to do most days I work a full day. I can just barely make it before it gets dark. Looked like it might be a wet ride, but the sky cleared just as I headed off. Chilly, but nice. My brand new Amici Veloci jersey with arm warmers worked great! Lower back and butt, however, was not happy. Will try some seat adjustments today. If that doesn't work, I'll have to try new seats again.