August 19 Ride Reports

[Geonz]

Whew@!! Got me gasping in sympathy.

Yesterday on my trip over the overpass, a RED SPORTS CAR waited behind me 'til I was over the top (okay, it was a HOnda at least, so *all* my stereotypes haven't been busted) and then passed me demurely.

Today the Saturday Saunter went to Curtis Orchard -it opens in late July. We went 23 miles, a *little* long, but it's (ack!!!!) getting to the end of the "official" season wehre I'm responsible for a level 1 ride. (Most of the group went on to Mahomet for a 30+ mile ride with breakfast).

Next week I"m planning to ride to Bloomington - about 50 miles - for the League of Illinois Bicylist's meeting. Got the cell phone... have to figure out what else to be sure to have along for a solo ride in the boonies (water, water, water) 'cause no, I'm not taking 150 (the busy parallel-to-the-interstate road) until the halfway point.

[Kitsune06]

I actually get a big kick out of being really courteous to bikers while I'm in my little sports car, thumping music. They always look at me with such surprise. "You didn't try to run me over?!"
...sad that things are that way, though...

[melissam]

I hear ya both! I love to be especially nice to people when I drive my Porsche, because it's the last thing they expect. Most Porsche 911 drivers really don't want to uphold the Crazy Porsche Driver reputation, but unfortunately there's a few that ruin it for the rest of us.

Anyway, I went for a ride today. I went from cycling bliss to being a bit frustrated. I was trying out my new Vredestein Fortezza tires on the road bike. Boy they felt great! The tread is really sticky -- kind of like the tread on my Porsche tires. The bike just wanted to go -- up hills, down hills, it didn't matter. And the Brooks saddle on my road bike is pretty much broken in, and that felt great too. I was feeling so good that I did a couple of hill repeats.

And then I got a flat tire. Rear tire, of course. Oh well, I have the tools and ability to fix a flat. But it sure is different fixing one on the side of the road than in the comfort of your garage. For instance, you can't sip a beer as you're fixing the flat on the side of the road. And there's no good place to sit. And the trusty floor pump is not around, so you're stuck with the frame pump.

Got the tube patched, started to air it up to see if it would hold, and killed the valve stem. #&@%!! Put the spare tube on, got the tire re-seated, and started pumping. And pumping. And pumping. Still feels soft. Oh, and somewhere along the line I got a metal sliver in my thumb, so everytime I hit it just right, it gave me a friendy reminder. Great. Still pumping. Hmm, let's check the pressure guage to see how much pressure I have. Try not to lose too much air when you put the pressure guage on, because it's hard work getting the air in there! Oh, the pressure guage's battery is dead. Nice. Put the pump back on and keep pumping, but be careful -- you don't want to kill another valve stem.

I got it pumped up to about 40psi -- the Vredestein's call for 145psi. Low pressure is practically begging for another flat. Limped back to the car, trying to keep as much weight off the rear tire as possible.

Take home lessons:

1. Get a Topeak Road Morph pump -- it's TE Forum approved.
2. Carry the frame pump in the car.
3. Carry extra tubes in the car.

Kitsune, hope you feel better and don't encounter any more sarcastic road workers.

-- Melissa

[mimitabby]

Well, the DH and i went on a wild and crazy ride today; 33.6 miles of you gotta love seattle stuff. We started up near logboom park as soon as we escaped from a 10 year wedding anniversary party (they were longwinded) and so it was already hot when we went out (no, not hot like new york, florida or arizona hot, but hot for us.)
So we sailed south on the burke gilman trail, then we went down fairview E
on the east side of lake union, and then D took me into the neighborhood (where restauraants and fairly rich people live right off the lake. We traipsed down that until it dead ended and then i had to go up a really steep hill but only 1 block. We rode all the way into downtown, where zillions of cars and pedestrians were.The bike shop was there; and while dh talked to the owner of the lbs about his bike to be, i noticed that my 4 year old helmet had a crack in it! so i found a cute orange helmet
which was http://tinyurl.com/qz58q
also inexpensive. DH hated it and picked up a 200 dollar helmet (no, i don't think so) but it was NOT as comfy as the bell (I have a BELL head apparently) so I am as pleased as punch to be getting a new ORANGE helmet
and the cheaper one too (okay, i'm a cheapskate)
well, we finallly finished all our transactions (Including I have an appt on friday for the Eva handlebars and new yellow tape for them!)
we got back on the bikes and headed towards the waterfront, which is normally a lovely ride on a fairly peaceful bike trail. Well, we found our selves in a SEA of people. Really young people. REALLY YOUNG, lots of them.
I finally asked a teenaged girl what was going on. She acted confused (maybe she was high?) DH finally figured it out, it was HEMPFEST!!!
he turned his bike around and we walked all the way back to the street
and took busy streets back to the Burke Gilman!

It's the longest i've ever ridden on my Bianchi and we just flew!
our average was only 12.8 but DH said it's because of how far we WALKED THE BIKES through the doper crowd!!

a good time was had by all.
mimi

[DDH]

Well, DH and I got out and rode today about 4 in the afternoon and about died for the heat and humitdity. We only rode about 10 miles, but that 10 miles about spent us with this heat. It was a good ride though. After being sick for a week, I am just glad to get back out there and able to ride. LOL

Oh, DH and I went to the LBS yesterday to look at tires and DH bought me some new tires for my mountain bike. He bought me some slicker tires to use to hopefully help my time and rolling resistance. It helped quite a bit acutallyl. I have been riding about 9 something to 10 somthing on my Avg speed. Fastest time I have had has been 11.1. Well tonight I avg. 12.5 and then it went down to 12.1 on the hill right before the house. LOL
Anyway, I like the lower rolling resistance.

[bikerchic]

Finally he had a Saturday off from work and we planned a bike ride for early this morning. It was supposed to be his pick of where we would ride but he cheesed and we got a late start cuz we're lazy.

I have been riding three times this week already and wasn't up for a long ride neither was he so we decided to head north up to the farm country. Last time we rode up there was the first ride he did on his new bike and he crashed so he was a bit apprehensive about going up there.

We had a great ride and stopped and checked out an abandoned farm house, he took a leak I was jealous cuz I needed to go.....won't do in in the open! LOL.

On our way home we decided to check out a road we've never gone down and it turned out to be really cool with a fast downhill turn which was all shaded by trees, very fun and it also turned out to be a short cut home!

All in all we did a tad under 10 miles and had a fun smell the roses kind of ride. Tomorrow we will start early! It's going to be hotter tomorrow and I want to ride in the cool of the morning and go further so we'll see.

It's late and I had best get some z's, gotta ride in the morning!

[Bikingmomof3]

We finally got out for an hour ride late last night. We tried during the day, but hit a wall of humidity and my migraines do not adjust well to the humid weather. All in all we had a wonderful ride and it was less humid. I would have preferred to ride longer, but it got too late.