September 17 Rides

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We did a beautiful 19 mile ride this morning after breakfast. Had a riding date with some other friends at 2pm....
We just got home from our morning ride and only had an hour to rest before going out AGAIN with our friends for a ride. This time we rode about 22 very hilly miles. I had to walk a couple of hills towards the end, my legs started feeling rubbery. The weather was gorgeous. I was pretty worn out at the end of ride #2!
Was in Heaven in the hot shower when we got home, going to bed early for sure and I know I'll be sore tomorrow, but- it was a great Bike Day....

[btchance]

Did an easy 20mile ride this morning, even though I was dead tired being post-call. I have been sick for a week and was bound and determined to get a ride in on my off day, and it was definately worth it, the weather was perfect in the mid 70s with little traffic on the roads. What else could you ask for?

[makbike]

I packed my recumbent up in my car and headed across the river to participate in the Louisville Bicycle Club's ice cream ride. This ride is traditionally held the weekend after the Old Kentucky Home Tour as part of a club meeting. The route is about as flat as one can get in this area. It is an out and back route from Jeffersonville to near Utica, Indiana. The ride out was great for I had a nice tailwind assisting us and the headwind back really gave me quite the workout. I logged 20 miles today and averaged 17.0 mph - my best so far on this bike. I felt great and did not hesitate to ask for two scoops of ice cream after the ride (the club picks up the tab).

[SJCzar]

Participated in a nice Metric Century today. Started off with a rain shower but ended up in sunshine.

I picked this ride to do not only because it was for a good cause, had a nice route, but most importantly I was sure that that they'd have a good t-shirt for my September Secret Sister. No disappoint there...it was my favorite of the season...I hope she likes it as well.

[GLC1968]

DH and I headed up to a county north of us (with little traffic) and took a route we were saving for after all the longer rides of the season were over. It was AWESOME!!! It had a lot of steep, curvy climbs (and descents) and some really nice views. We did a total of 36 miles and had a complete blast! The weather was a perfect 85 degrees, the wildlife was out in force (two deer, a wild turkey and a couple of groudhogs) and we took it easy and enjoyed every single minute of it.

This ride not only served to reinforce our love for biking, but it inspired us to shoot for something a little harder next weekend. We have plans to do a 50 mile loop that will include a climb to the top of hanging rock (2 mile climb of 8 - 12%). Can't wait!!

Oh, and I got a second speed sensor so that I can use my cycle computer on my commuter bike. I'm excited to try it out this week!

Man, I love cycling!

[7rider]

Sunday = shop ride.
B-group was large today, but rather disorganized. Pacelines have not been very successful as folks sprint ahead, cut inside the line, waver dangerously on their line, and generally muff it up. Rumor has it, the A-group splits in two on Clara Barton, into the fast group and the sick-fast group. Some of us may bolt next week and try to hang with the merely fast group and get some fun pacelining in. I've been asked to join the rebellion, and I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Excited, because...hey! I've been asked to join the fast folks. How cool is that? Nervous because this summer is really my first time riding with a group - that I do only once a week. I'm nervous that my inexperience will really show.
But....that's next week.
Today, we added some extra hills and the loop into Rock Creek Park. We really need to get the miles in before the Seagull on the 7th. I've been trying to focus on cadence on the hills, and it helped me hang with some good climbers: Kathy and Trevor. I think Kathy was just being kind or had a hard day yesterday - she normally dusts me on hills, and today she let me take Old Anglers!! I was so happy. It was her birthday present to me! Yay.
38.5 miles at 17.3 mph. A little slower than the last few weeks, but I think that's because of the extra loop into the park. At the hour we hit it on the return, it's much more crowded than early in the a.m., which forces you to go slower.

[Popoki_Nui]

Had a great ride, given that it was windy and rained the whole time. Did 52km along the multiuse Lochside Trail, and then onto the highway. Felt pretty happy with it, loaded the bike into my van, and drove an hour home. Stopped at the general store to get something for dinner, and realized I had lost the little purse I carry with my ID, DL, medical insurance card, debit card, and a little spending cash.
Totally freaked, I drove back into Victoria, hoping it was where I had parked the van for my ride. I remember putting my purse on the van hood after my ride (a very sloping hood). It must have slid off and I drove away without realizing it.
Halfway back to town, my cellphone rang; it was the bike shop where I started my ride, saying a neighbour of theirs found my purse while walking is dog! They went in the bike shop, asked it anyone there knew me (based on my less-than-flattering driver licence photo!). Of course they know me, and called with the good news. I almost fainted with relief! I was mentally going thru all the rigamarole associated with replacing my ID etc, so huge thanks to Anne at Selkirk Bike Shop, and the honest man who turned my purse in!!
Came back home, had a cold beer and a hot bath. Still feel a little shaky, completely stupid, but ever so grateful.
~Sherry.

[indysteel]

I did another group ride on Sunday. For those of you "playing along at home," that's my third group ride since September 10th. I mention that only because I spent the whole summer feeling really, really nervous about riding with a group. The few cyclists I know are incredibly strong, and I kept comparing myself to them. As a result, I think I developed a complex along the way that I would make a fool of myself at a club/group ride. Thankfully, I've since put all that to bed! Obviously, there are lots of different skill levels at these rides. While I may not be ready for an aggressive training ride, I certainly fit in just fine at the club rides. In fact, I can keep up pretty well! Too bad it took me this long to realize that!

Anyway, Sunday's ride started off at a bike shop on the southside of the city. I've never ridden on that side of town and was looking forward to a peaceful ride in the country on what looked to be another beautiful day.
The crowd wasn't that big. Maybe people opted to just do Saturday's ride. In any event, there were lots of ride options--100, 70, 48, 36 and 20. I opted for the 48. I thought about trying for 70, but I had some place I needed to be that afternoon. In the end, that was probably a good decision.

I ran into a couple of people I knew, including the woman I'd met and ridden with at the previous day's club ride. We rode together for a bit, complaining of the wind and our stiff legs! She was only doing 36 miles though and our routes diverged less than 10 miles into the ride. I was sad to see her go, but I was determined to ride the 48-mile route. If I have any hope of doing both days of the Hilly Hundred, I need to push myself a bit.

From there, I rode most of the way by myself. I encountered a few pockets of people, but for whatever reason, I decided to pass them and ultimately rode by myself the first 29 miles to the SAG. I was kind of surprised at how few people I encountered. It was a little spooky.

It was pretty windy and, at times, I found myself more than a little exhausted. My legs were sore from Saturday's ride, and I don't think I had enough breakfast. I was so, so happy to get to the SAG, where I quickly wolfed down a banana and some cookies! I chatted with some guys I'd met at Saturday's ride. One guy greeted me with a "Hey, Bianchi!" which made me laugh. Again, everyone was extremely nice.

After refueling, I got back on the rode. Thankfully, I had the wind (mostly) at my back. I found myself easily cruising about 21 mph. Thankfully, I didn't encounter any dogs (there were a couple early in the ride) or get lost. I made it back to the car in one piece, with an average speed of 16.69 mph. Considering the wind, that wasn't too bad (for me).

All in all, it was a good ride, if a tad lonely. I really hope that, over time, I meet some people that I can ride with regularly. I enjoy going solo--when that's my intent. Otherwise, it would be fun to have some riding buddies of comparable skill and personality.

[velocilex]

A couple of my guy riding buddies and I rode a 32 mile jaunt yesterday morning. The weather was splendid, although this time of year the roadkill is pretty aromatic. We took a country road out northwest of town and I was having a great day-- the bike (new, we're still on our honeymoon) felt more comfortable than ever before, my rhythm was there, everything was humming. I went into the hospital with pneumonia at the beginning of July, and I've had to take baby steps to get back on the bike. Yesterday was the first time I rode up every single hill without having to stop and catch my breath. My speed was great, my climbing was strong, and I had fun! When we got back to town, I felt like a food incinerator, so I treated myself to a hearty, guilt-free brunch.