Rides: December 13-19

[HillSlugger]

I did another ride on the rollers today. I'm up to 135 miles for December, but they've all been inside. I can feel my sanity slipping away as the miles add up.

[crazycanuck]

Don't try the following on a hot day...

We set out early to do a particular dirt route early this morning as it was (and atm it's 36C) going to be quite hot. I had enough water etc and was having a great time on my own navigating the trails. I only saw one other rider.. All fine & dandy but I really started to feel the heat when I came to an unshaded section.

I didn't have a look at how much water was left in my hydropack & thought i'd have enough to get back to Kalamnuda on a particular trail. I wanted to bypass the Pickering Brook general store but...I then stopped for a moment & did look...oops...Only a smidgen bit left. Panic...*phew* I can hear the nearby road & don't think i'm too far from the store. Man it's hot..will I make it back to Kal in the heat? Urmm..what do i do?

Made it to the store & purchased a Gatorade type drink plus a bottle of water. Thankfully they have a small shaded outdoor area w some tables. . I sat down & thought..I don't know the quickest trail back...Hmmmm...

I called my dear (who'd just made it back to our vehicle) & came n met me.

Lesson learnt...Hydropack plus water bottle and start at 630am next week when doing this ride again...

[Ritamarie]

Oh, MDHill, at least you rode yesterday. I just watched the snow and ate Christmas cookies.

Gorgeous pics Fredwina! I'd be riding off the road if I had that scenery to look at!

[Crankin]

I did two days in a row of some really tough rides on the trainer, using my Cyclo-Core and Cyclo Zen program. Plenty of one leg drills, super spins, and a couple of big gear intervals. Throw in some functional core work and let's just say my legs are feeling it.
I am doing the program according to my own schedule, so sometimes my rest days are not when the program schedules them. Today I plan to do the recovery yoga and strap on the snow shoes or x country skis.

Riding outside is definitely more fun, but I keep making myself think about how this is going to get me up the hills in Spain next May.

[redrhodie]

Today I'll be putting an old tire on my good bike so she can go on the trainer, which commits me to not riding her outside anymore until spring. I'll be riding my steel bike outside until then (when there's no ice). Last year, I rode the steel bike on the trainer, which left my good bike for outside in the sand and salt. This is probably a smarter move.

[DebW]

Did a 25 mile ride out of Bedford with CRW on Saturday. Only 9 hearty souls showed up in the 20F weather, and the leaders decided we'd all stay together. I couldn't keep up with the fast group, but wasn't generally last either (there was always a leader riding sweep so no one got lost), and the entire group regrouped occasionally at major turns. My clothing/mittens/headwear were appropriate to the ride, but my left foot was cold, and my water bottles eventually froze up. The Camelback bottle valve froze first, the push-pull valve on the other bottle remained drinkable until the last 10 miles. It was an enjoyable ride, but with todays snowstorm, the last one for awhile.

[arielmoon]

(((arielmoon))) that's too bad. Will you be able to ride again when the fracture heals?

I should think so since there never was any pain associated with riding my bike! Also it is unclear to me if the fracture is going to heal at all. Most fractures heal within 6 months before they are considered nonunion. It has been 9 months since my accident.

Arielmoon, Dressage rider and bicyclist!? We've gotta talk girl! I feel your pain... no horse and no bike? Whatever will you do?

Meep! I dont want to think about it. Much more likely that the cycling will be ok. One out of two aint so bad!

Ouch, arielmoon! And yeah, I suspect riding your bike isn't a good idea right now.

Maybe it's time to take up swimming?

I would not be opposed to that but I might have to be careful about developing the adductor/abductor muscles that are already being "crowded". I really would like to talk withn someone that is familiar with this type of problem. I cant believe it is that uncommon.

[kenyonchris]

I see everyone riding in these cold temps, and feel like the weenie I am about the cold. I have stuck to the rollers on the road bike, but two days ago it was warm (er) and sunny, so BF and I took the MTBs out. He is a very experienced road cyclist, rides at the track and is a CAT 3 race rider, he bought the MTB to make me happy and ride with me. We have done two MTB rides, one in lots and lots of mud, one with the daughter that was cut short by daughter's problems, so I was looking forward to getting him out with me..
The trail was very basic, very little technical stuff, just windy with some up downs and such. I took the lead and was zipping along, humming King of the Road, when I looked back to check on him...and he was nowhere to be seen. I grabbed a tree so didn't have to unclip and waited and a few minutes later he chugged into view. He unclipped and leaned on his handlebars to catch his breath and complained about being out of shape (keep in mind, he smokes me on the road bike). I couldn't believe he was struggling to keep up with ME. So I hung on to the tree until he was ready and pushed off again, this time going slower. We did ok until we came to a little place where the mud was still deep and sticky at the bottom of a steep hill. I sized it up and went down carefully, sure enough it grabbed my tire. I put a foot down and pushed off, I called out to him to be careful...but it was too late. He hit the bottom and wound up in the bush. I knew better than to comment, so I grabbed a tree and waited. He was so frustrated and irritated with himself that the rest of the ride was not fun for him. He was out of breath, tired of falling, and certainly not used to struggling with the bike. I told him that the MTB is *different*, techinque is different and takes a little time to learn. He did calm down, but it took a few minutes...and some McDonalds....to make him feel better.