May 1 Rides

[Catrin]

After being convinced that I wouldn't get to ride this weekend due to the weather, the rain broke for the afternoon - so took my Trek to Eagle Creek Park and put 15 miles on her. I wanted to hit one of my country roads but as that is a 20 mile loop I didn't want to get caught in the rain more than a couple of miles from my car.

It was a great ride, and focused on shifting properly - and can now shift uphill At some point I learned something wrong about shifting and was actually making things HARDER in the hills, not easier. It makes things more interesting when you are the one teaching yourself how to do something

The weather was coolish, no sun, and very odd clouds, but the nice thing about the weather is that there were very few cars, walkers, joggers, or even other cyclists. For the most part I had the beautiful park to myself. I would have at least ridden 20 miles but my LHT was waiting for me at the LBS after his free 30-day tuneup and I figured the rain was going to return at some point - and it is supposed to return with t-storms. 15 miles seemed enough for today.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

DH and I rode 22 miles today in 80F sun, some good hills- so odd to be overheated for a change! I'm still out of shape this Spring, but not as badly as I was 3 wks ago. And at least my sitbones are seemingly now past the first Spring break-in stage.

[kermit]

Went to Key Biscayne, a very popular site for cycling and the local tris. Super windy! Did two loops with bridges (huge) 30 miles in 1:50 minutes. Got off the bike and did a 15 minute run. My first brick in a long time, not much but it was fun!!!!!

[7rider]

Did my first N2 of the season, and rode out to a town called Poolesville. There were some road racing going on and we knew a few of the folks racing, so a few of us hung out to watch the races for a bit.
Brutally fast for mY slow butt at the beginning, but four of us took it rather sedately on the way home. On the way home, I started Jones-ing for some sushi...cool, protein and carbs. A quick stop at the food Co-op next to the LBS and I got a California roll, a smoothie, and a banana. Yummmmm

[ridenread]

Finally got in a ride over 20 miles, just 21.6 not far over, but I'll take it. It was a beautiful sunny day in the low 70's. The winds off the ocean were not fun but overall it was a very enjoyable ride.

[shootingstar]

Went on a 2nd bike ride for my new Dahon folding bike XL sport. I still need to get proper lights. Internal gear hub changing system -16 speed. It is the bike in the foreground.

Did 44 kms. today. Smooth as butter. It will be used for bike trips involving aircraft, train...which means for Europe next month.

Bike store is giving me up to 20 hrs. of bike riding so that we can figure out any other minor adjustments to be made.

[tharley]

Did a "15 mile" warm up ride this am, but it was really about 17.8 miles. Dang winds and a flat tire made the ride a little difficult, but it was very fun. I'd gladly go back out for some flat road or downhills tonight, but my legs disagree.

[Crankin]

About 27 miles, through Concord, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Westford, and back. It was 82 degrees here today... I was prepared for the worst, since I really need to acclimate to hot temperatures. But, I drank a lot and ate half a Luna protein bar and it was fine. We were on mostly shady roads, too.
There were so many cyclists out today, I seriously am beginning to dislike riding around my house on the weekends. Twice, some guy came up and rode behind me, without saying a word and drafted off of me. I told DH to turn off the road, so we could get rid of each of them. But, we didn't really change what we planned to do.
Tomorrow we are going to do a breakfast ride, as it will be close to 90 later in the day.

[PamNY]

I've gotten into a rut, going to Central Park and Riverside Park every weekend. So today I went to Prospect Park in Brooklyn -- not really a radical bike route, but more hills and traffic than I'm used to. Enjoyed the park and the almost total absence of speeding bikers -- I'm sympathetic to their needs, and I think dodging them makes me a better biker, but today I really enjoyed a chance to relax and have fun. I'm debating putting my computer back on since I'd love to know how far I went today. Maybe I've calmed down enough to handle it.

The spillover from tomorrow's 5 Boro bike tour makes regular biking a nightmare, so I'm glad I got lovely miles today.

[owlice]

I rode tonight; though I've ridden in the dark before, I think this is the first time I've started my bikeride in the dark. Didn't get in a long ride -- just 10.5 miles, but some is better than none!

It was very exciting; I heard things splashing into the water as I rode by, startled deer and rabbits, and saw beavers next to the lake.

[marni]

[QUOTE=Crankin. Twice, some guy came up and rode behind me, without saying a word and drafted off of me. I told DH to turn off the road, so we could get rid of each of them. But, we didn't really change what we planned to do.
[/QUOTE]

Isn't that irritating. I don't mind if they say hey and ask if they can draft for a while. Depending on how the ride goes I macy actually let them without expecting any reciprocal drafting but at least some basic good manners would dictate that they at least call out and let you know they are back there.

When someone does that to me I ride slower and slower and slower and less and less in a straight line until I get off my bike and wave them past with a only slightly sarcastic oh please I insist, after you.

I had one guy who stopped when I did several times so I finally sat down on the ground, looked him in the eye and said I am not moving again until you are out of sight so get lost.

I felt quite nostalgic reading your route as I used to live in Acton and ride almost the same route.

At least you have shade, around here it is just flat fields and little or no shade. The ride at the butt crack of dawn season is just about here.

marni

[smilingcat]

FINALLY, THE WIND DIED DOWN. Where I live its either on shore or off shore breeze. Either way its a strong cross wind, the worst kind. I don't ride on those days.

So after two weeks, well some of the days the weather looked like it was ready to rain, I went riding today. yippee!!

I'm a fair weather rider these days. had a wonderful ride just over 20 fun miles with 1800 feet of climb. The strong wind for the last two days blew away all the muck and the guck out of the air and I was treated to a breath taking blue sky above and blue ocean down below. Yes the sky is blue not brown. Lovely ride. tomorrow, I think I'll do two sets of hill climbs.

[Crankin]

Marni, when did you live in Acton? I have lived in the area for about 20 years, most of it in Boxborough. My kids went to A-B.
I know all about getting up at the "butt crack of dawn," to exercise. When I lived in AZ I would go out and walk at 5 AM, or go to the gym.
Off to ride to the Stow Airfield for a delicious breakfast at the cafe.... although right now I am wondering how I will feel riding home 12 or so miles, after eating. Before I moved to Concord, it was 3 miles.

[AmyO]

Had a great day Saturday with beautiful weather. Rode to the gym (23 miles RT), did double spin classes with the team leader for the local MS Ride (June) and then rode home.....some bad (for cyclists) bridge repairs on my route...one is the Neponset Bridge, which is one lane for everyone no matter how you approach it from the South--I was laboring up the on-ramp with a garbage truck up my butt--and a couple of lanes with crazed motorists going the other way. Tried to avoid it by going in a different direction on the way home and ran into another construction site over the MBTA tracks in North Quincy. Anyone who rides in the area, be careful. The Neponset bridge is slated for 3 years of repairs. Time to find a better way...

Other than that, it was a fabulous day. Today....well it was a recovery day for sure.

[TrekTheKaty]

The traditional, "first official organized ride of St. Louis" is the Tour de Stooges in Highland, IL. They forecast rain all week, but storms blew through Friday night and left it 60 and calm at 8:30 am. Hubby headed off with another speed demon to do the metric, while I tooled through the 42 miles by myself. Lost a spoke towards the end, but made it in for a huge lunch spread. I also beat the boys back :-)