October Rides

[ny biker]

Ugh, ny, sounds like you've had some challenging times! I broke the rear shifter cable on a very long (over 80-mile) ride last year and had to limp back in one gear, so I do feel your pain! It was mostly flat, thank the gods, except at the very end, where there was one long and steep climb that I had to walk.

I hope you feel better in time for your ride Saturday. Colds suck, and though I don't get them often, mine tend to linger and turn into a horrible cough at the end, so I pretty much know I'm going to be "out" for any athletic endeavors for about a month when I get one.

Thanks Emily. Fortunately the thing with bike rides is that if you have a few bad ones, you just keep going out there and riding until they get good again. I worked from home all week so I could rest and by Friday the cold was almost completely gone -- with no bizarre complications or secondary infections like the last two times I was sick, so yay for that. Saturday we rode 49 miles and had a really nice time. My friend and I co-led it for our club. The route was a variation on one that we did in February on a day that was supposed to be spring-like but ended up cloudy and cold. I reversed it for a bit of variety and added a slight detour to pass a historic site in the area. We had a few minor incidents -- made a wrong turn due to a weird mistake from ridewithgps, had an unexpected gravel section that lasted more than a mile, then some confusion due to signs saying the road was closed for road work when it was really open. But the weather was nice, sunny and warm enough for late October, and we enjoyed the scenery along with good conversation.

The new shifter feels loose compared to the old one, but I spoke to the mechanic at the LBS today and he said that's the way SRAM is making them these days. It works well enough, just moves more when I shift than before. While I was there I picked up some new windshell hi-viz windshell gloves along with some knee warmers and compression socks that were on the clearance table. And the gloves were 20% off so all in all it was a good shopping trip.

[ny biker]

Very nice, Bike Dutchess.
I accomplished my metric for my metric birthday. We didn't leave until close to 11:30. Set out to do our flat loop, and rode back to Concord center, so we could pee and I had to take my base layer off! I had already changed out my glove liners and head cover. Then, we rode to west Acton for lunch. That was 25 miles. We probably sat a bit too long at lunch, but on we went to the Delaney Reservation in Stow, about 6 more miles. So, at the half way point, we realized we needed to either make the ride shorter, or speed up. DH had his "big" light, I did not, but I did have a light. It got a bit cloudy after this, but we spent a long time on main roads that are flat-ish. At least it was in places i haven't ridden in awhile, through Maynard, Sudbury, Lincoln, and back to Concord. We knew we wouldn't have enough once we were heading toward home, so first, we rode to Verrill Farm, to use the bathroom, I ate a Shot Block, and took the glove liners off. Eleven miles left. Got to Concord Center, in a round about way, and took a loop around the center, but when we got close to our area, we knew we would have to go past our street. We did, and ended up with 61.1. I feel pretty good, only my left toes started cramping near the end. Of course, this route was flat for us, about 2,200 ft. of climbing.
On to Cuban food!

Congrats and happy birthday!

[Crankin]

Did a very little 11 mile ride on my actual birthday. It's 65 out, and gorgeous, actually was up to 68 at one point. But, I had a stupid training at work from 12-1, right in the middle of the day. So, by the time i came home and had lunch, I decided just getting some fresh air would be good. Probably will ride to work tomorrow and then Friday I am co-leading a ride. It's supposed to be in the 70s.
ETA: Ha, I just forgot I have a client at 8:30 AM... I also go to a class at the gym at 5:45. So, since I don't want to ride to the gym at 5 AM, do the class, then ride to work (although that is only about 3 miles), I guess I won't be riding tomorrow!

[emily_in_nc]

Happy birthday, Crankin! Attachment 17841

[Crankin]

Thanks, Emily.