September 30 Rides

[DeniseGoldberg]

Brrr it was about 39 degrees when I left this morning... I thought my ears were going to freeze

A hint for your ears for those cold day rides - I've been using Earbags (http://www.earbagsus.com/) to keep my ears warm, and they really do the trick. (There are a couple of different manufacturers of the same type of item, but this is the brand I've used.)

--- Denise

[Crankin]

We did a charity ride yesterday, which raises money for many children's agencies in Boston. My husband's company paid for the fundraising ($700), so that part was stress free. The weather was perfect, but it was cold at the start (47). I was wearing a midweight fleece lined jersey and my hoodie to start, tights, full finger gloves, and a headband. Oh and toe warmers, too. My husband and I were astounded to see more than half of the riders wearing nothing but shorts and a jersey. We keep thinking that we are wimps because we lived in AZ for so long. But, really, it was cold! My legs still felt dead from doing the century last Sunday. I guess I haven't rested enough. I realized that this was the first bigger charity ride I have done and I did not like having all of those people around. But everyone spread out quickly and they started us off in groups. At the first rest stop I took my hoodie and headband off, but it was still pretty cool out. We were going a really fast pace and i felt like a panting dog for most of the ride! It was flat, with a few small rollers near the end, which was too bad, since I really had to slow down for the last 5 miles. I admit that i was complaining for almost the whole ride.
The food was great afterward (ribs, bbq chicken, and beer) and the best thing was that we could take a shower at a health club that was on the start site.
Total, 52 miles, 3 hrs. 15 minutes, av. speed 16.

[Selkie]

Coldest ride yet this fall---45 degrees when I left the house, but I was able to wear my Exte Ondo knickers.

The ride was good, except there was still some debris from Thursday night's storm (a tree across a bridge on the trail--it was there when i rode Friday morning, but apparently, the Park folks couldn't move it completely, so they cut a tunnel through it so one lane could get past). Everything went well until the last 10 miles--Team in Training trail hogs, more than usual (I think multiple groups got together), were doing some sort of big event. I swear those people are oblivious, as they run platoon style-two abreast in these formations--and don't seem to give a whit for others using the trail. Well, several of them were yabbering and wandering all over the trail. Had words with a couple of them who would not get over to the right. I got tired of it, so I left my usual route and went East toward DC (the "killer hill" route). I really didn't want to push it because I'm getting over some ankle/foot tendonitis, but everything worked out OK.

Suffice it to say that I can't wait until the TNTers do their Marine Corps Marathon and go into hibernation until next spring. I think it's great that they are raising money to help others, but you think they would be a bit more considerate when they are supposedly "sharing the trail." It's a safety issue, for crying out loud.