October 29 Rides

[HillSlugger]

Wow, it was windy!

Woke up to 40 degrees and bright sunlight. Woo hoo! Loaded the bike onto the car and went off to ride. I had a 30 miler in mind. When I stopped to unload the bike I discovered how windy it really was. I immediately dropped my plans for the 30 mile ride with the hill that kicked my butt 6 weeks ago in favor of two 11.5 mile laps. I was beat after only one lap (felt like a 20 mile ride!) and called it quits. I couldn't hold a straight line and was afraid of being blown sideways when there was a car coming by.

Hoping for better weather next week!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The wind in NY state here today was incredible as well- biking would have been impossible in the huge gusts. Also, there was fluffy icy HAIL several times!
We had guests, so we all bundled up really well and went for a 3 mile hike in a beautiful conservation reserve, with pond and hills. The views were wonderful, and the winds and big sky clouds made it more dramatic.
Tomorrow says sunny, in the 50's and not windy....BIKE TIME!

[bcipam]

OK I have to preference this by saying please don't tell my doctor but...

well the weather here in So California has been so gorgeous lately I could not go ride my bike. Yesterday, around noon, while I was eating left over tuna casserole, my buddy Richard called and asked if I wanted to do an easy MTB through Chino Hills. Not wanting to sit on the couch any longer feeling sorry for myself, I agreed. Well, yesterday was not a good day for me. Let's just say riding on a stomach full of tuna casserole is not a good thing. We barely did 8 miles if that.

Today I wanted to do it again. Again another beautoful day. About 75 degrees, warm and sunny. Richard and I (after eating an appropriate breakfast - no tuna!) took off for Aliso/Wood Canyon. The trail was in incredibly good shape. I felt really good and we made it up to Cholla Trail in good time.

Instead of climbing Cholla (which the doctor would really be angry about) we went back down the main trail and found another trail to explore. Wow! What an awesome singetrack! Little bridges over stream crossing, beautiful Oak Woodlands, fun little stair step climbs. I was in heaven. I did know to take it easy and not risk a fall. It was just a nice day to be out cruising on a beautiful trail. Probably only did about 10 miles but I was pooped after. Hopefully in a few months I'll be back to riding like before surgery.

[mtkitchn]

Palo Verde Century. I met mimitabby's husband Don and JulieB from bikejournal. It was a nice cool morning and I rode about 25 miles with those two before we split up (I planned to do the 50 mile option and they were heading out for the full 100). Around mile 37 I had a blowout through my rear tire's sidewall and I was done. SAG'd back in, ate lunch and came home. Dropped the bike off at the LBS for a tune-up and an Armadillo for the rear (didn't have one on it).
Really windy on the eastbound leg back toward the start point. Hope Raleighdon and JulieB finished well and had a good ride! It was great to meet them!
Also met PinkBike before we left but somehow never saw her on the ride!

[Fredwina]

Pam , it's interesting you went to Chino Hills, as I went to The Chino Airport out and back via Ontario Airport. I call it the plane loop. I did go through the City of Chino Hills as well, but didn't get close to the state park. It was a gorgeous day.
Hill Slug, Don't blame you for turning around. I almost did so yesterday when I rounded a couple of Corners in Lytle Creek Canyon and get hit with a 30+ gust.

[Triskeliongirl]

I had a blast today. Our regular club ride was a bit further out of the city than usual to take advantage of the clocks changing. Rode from Kendalia to Blanco Texas, up a road with killer hills called Crabapple Road. It was so pretty I wished I had a camera. Sunny in the 70s, just a georgeous day.

[GLC1968]

We had crazy wind here as well! Yesterday was super windy so we postponed our long ride until today. We headed out with 60F weather at about 10 am for our favorite 60 mile ride.

We got to about mile 15 and we were exhausted already! The wind was EVERYWHERE... and it was extremely difficult maintaining control. The traffic seemed worse than usual as well, so we opted for a shorter 30 mile ride. The bad luck was that we only had the wind at our back for the shortest leg of our ride. It was a beautiful day though and even though we were challenged, it was a great ride.

Ending stats: 30.9 miles, 15.5 mph average (surprising...thought it would be MUCH slower)

[BeeLady]

DH and I decided to ride about 15 miles to a small community that was selling turkey dinners for a fund raiser. We were able to find a map on map quest to take a slightly longer, but back route.

Two miles from the house I told me husband that the wind was BAD, and he said its just a nice breeze. I figured we'd have a head wind for an hour or so til we reached our destination and then it would push us back home, so I went along (DH has never ridden 10 or 20 miles with a severe head wind, I have).

Two hours later we were no where near our destination and DH was having a heck of time keeping up. The wind had increased! And then he gets worried about what if he gets a phone call and has to rush back home? My anxiety level ratchets up.

One rest stop I had combined water/drink from my two bottles into one bottle and when I bent over to pick up my bike spilled half on the ground!

Anyway, we finally make it to our destination. I drink my last water a mile from Meyersville. We have finally turned off onto another road and have the wind to our backs. We make it past the only store on the entire route, started in 1877, which has never been open on a Sunday and wasn't open today either!

I call ahead to make sure there is food left as we are late. I'm told they'll save us two plates. DH says he won't eat, just wants to get home. I get my food and gobble it down, and he finally eats a bit. A local tells us of a better route home (thank goodness it really WAS a better route home!). We head off and I am miserable -- mainly gastric distress.

I had filled my two water bottles up with water and its well water, which I cannot tolerate. Every sip I take almost makes me sick. (Our water out here is softened and I drink only RO water.) Pedaling on a flat rode, easy gear, wind to my back my HR is over 160!!!!! DH is doing great now but he stops and stays with me. Says I should be on an IV by the way I appear to him.

I ask him to flag down a pick-up truck for a ride but he is hesitant. About five miles further we see a truck on a dirt road getting onto our road and heading our direction. We ask for a ride and the young driver, who had been feeding his cattle, nicely helped us load our bikes and gives us a two- or three-mile lift to the highway. Only seven miles to go! Only four or five big hills left! Cross wind, no head wind!

We made it home; I did a few stretches, drank some sport drink and rested for an hour till I could shower.

Anyway we made it. Errors were not respecting the wind, underestimating the lenght of the route, spilling out my sports drink and eating too much too fast. Other than that saw some beautiful country, had picture perfect sunny day and in a few years will have a funny story to tell.

When I have time I think I'll drive that route to get the milage. We were on the road over four hours -- maybe I did my first half-century!