October 22/23,2011 rides!

[azfiddle]

Today was another in the series of training rides for El Tour de Tucson, with the coaches from Carmichael Training. This was the first "endurance ride" - the others have been skills rides: buddy riding and bike handling, cornering, pacelines and hill repeats.

Today we rode 40 miles with about 1200 feet of climbing. The ride followed a portion of the El Tour course (maybe about 20-25 miles of it?). Although I always seem to be getting dropped no matter who I ride with, I managed to stay with my group for about 60% of the ride, and the well organized pacelines upped my average to 16.5 mph- when my solo rides are usually about 14.5-15, and on yesterday's 71 mile ride I was at about 15.1 But with 111 miles in two days, I'm ready for a day or two off, at least!

[owlice]

Wild Goose Chase; rode the 42.8 mile ride which turned out to be about 46 miles for us, so I rode another four miles for 50. Lovely lovely ride.

[Catrin]

Yesterday DH and I explored some muddy seasonal roads on our CX bikes for about 21 miles, then today I took part in my 3rd ever CX race...I still need to work on my mounts and dismounts. I wasn't DFL, but there were only 3 people behind me in the C race. I'd love to have at least a half-dozen back there.

A friend shot a killer photo of me on his iPhone--I think this was only after the first lap or two, as I don't see much mud splatter on my legs:

I felt pretty good. Yesterday my legs felt like crap, since I hadn't been on my bike in a week (returned from Death Valley JDRF ride and a few days in Vegas late Tues, then the weather was garbage for a few days). Glad that yesterday's ride woke them up for today.

Zoom-zoom, it is good to see you, and it looks like you had fun!

[rubysoho]

love the photo, zoom-zoom!

[Titania]

Rode my longest ride yet, 26.4 miles. Talk about varied terrain, though...we rode slow local roads, fast 50 mph roads, a bit of bike trail, some local roads where all of the pavement had been ground off (thank god for the carbon bike!), a couple of nasty hills (just a hair under 1100 ft of climb). We rode by some very old farmhouses in Groton that are on a hill overlooking a HUGE pasture. The view was incredible with the spectacular foliage ringing the pasture.

[Norse]

It was a beautiful autumn day here and I decided it was perfect to ride the old Trek FX with panniers to the Minneapolis Farmer's Market. Getting there and back was mostly on the Cedar Lake Trail. A good thing there were not too many hills as I must have been carrying about 30 extra lbs on the way back - mostly meat and I sure did notice it going up hills! Just 18 miles for the round trip but what a wonderful outing.

[redrhodie]

Today was supposed to be a rest day, but another perfect day had me in the saddle. The forecast said it was in the 40s F, so I wore wool knickers, full finger gloves, and a jacket over my jersey. I was way overdressed. I was doing a "fast" ride, so I was bummed that I had to stop to take off clothes. There was hardly a breeze. Not complaining, but I hate being too hot.

Tomorrow's back to work, and back to windy. Not sure which bike I'll ride, or clothes I'll wear. I can't seem to get it right this time of year.