April 28 ride reports

[jobob]

I'm slowly getting over the head cold from hell so I went out today, not sure how far I would go. I headed towards Sunol and figured if I was feeling good I'd see how far up Calaveras Road I could make it without pushing myself too hard.

Yee gods, it was hot out today! I was wondering how the hardy souls riding the Devil Mountain Double were faring, it was our first really warm weekend and they were going thru Livermore and Mines Road up the backside of Mt. Hamilton without any chance to acclimate to the heat. Hope no-one had problems with the heat out there

Okay, back to me. I made it fine to Sunol and continued on across the warm valley leading to Calaveras Road. There was a light breeze blowing which kept it from getting uncomfortable. Happily, once I started up the relatively shallow climb, the road was reasonably well shaded.

I started playing little mind games with myself - if I made it up to the "false summit" (which is the bulk of the climbing in that direction) before I turned around, then not only would I have the full extent of the fun descent back into Sunol, but I would reward myself with a Haagen-Dazs ice cream bar.

Well, I started tiring a bit around the mile 5.5 road marker. I couldn't remember where the false summit was located - was it mile 7.8? Or was it 8.8? Ugh! I wasn't sure if I'd have the energy to go that far. I convinced myself to go on to mile 6.0, I could do that. Then, when I got to 6.0, well, maybe I can make it to 6.5. Once I got to 6.5 I was thinking, waitaminute, am I approaching the false summit already??? I turned a corner, and lo and behold and hallelujia, the false summit was at 6.8, not 7.8 or 8.8! Sweeeet!!

So, at the top I guzzled more water, blew my stuffy nose about 10 times (ewwww), turned around and had the lovely descent, and the tasty Haagen-Dazs bar at the little store in Sunol. Then, a slightly windy ride along Niles Canyon Road and a much more windy ride along the AC trail back to home. The last 8 miles or so into the afternoon headwind on the AC Trail was really taxing for me and I was starting to peeter out, so I just geared down and spun into it and took my dear sweet time.

47 miles, only about 1000 feet of climbing, 13.7 mph, and one Haagen-Dazs bar. Eh, not bad for my first head cold "recovery" ride.

In retrospect, I'm very glad I took a pass on the SLO Wildflower this weekend, I'm obviously lacking in stamina right now & I heard it was really hot down there.

[Starfish]

Jobob, glad to hear you are recovering!

It was SUNNY today!!! O my gosh I was grateful for a break in the rain!

Did two repeats of the lower part of the mountain today for 21.5 miles and 3110' climbing. Pretty happy with myself, but pretty hilarious...a lot of 4.5 mph today!

Still, sunshine, so all was well in my world today.

[ace]

Did a 28 mile ride with the local club (actually it was about 33 because I rode to the starting point and back), almost entirely flat. It was hot! Had to deal with the ride leader from last week (who substituted a 38 m. hilly ride for a 29 m. flat one without telling us), but he just treated me with an extra smidge of his jerky arrogance.

It does really piss me off that he's always saying how if we work, we'll be out of the light group in no time, and tells the people who are fast that they "have good attitudes," and basically just barks at the rest of us. It's demoralizing. Don't know how long I'm going to be able to ride with th3w3 people...my knee is probably going to keep me from doing much more than 40 flat miles this summer.

I continue to be surprised at how much water I have to drink- I went thru 133 oz while cycling, and had another 24 when I got home (I weigh over 200 lbs, so that's not a crazy amount). Plus I got some foot cramps during the ride. I think I need more calcium/potassium. Any advice about that?

[jobob]

Ace, are you drinking any kind of sports drink, or just plain water? You might want to consider carrying a bottle with Gatorade or Cytomax or some other sports drink w. electrolytes (i.e., salts) , in addition to a bottle of plain water, now that it's finally heating up. Many people cramp easily, especially when it gets hot and they lose more salts from sweating.

[Kano]

Just a short 12.75 jaunt down "the greenbelt" after work tonight. DH brought the bikes down and met me at the shop and we took off from there, rode to one end, and then back. LOTS of tree roots making some wicked bumps in the asphalt trail, so I got some new experience on my new bike -- told DH, lots of "butt ups" on this ride! Some were pretty wicked, and more than my butt, I worried about my poor wheels, but all seems well after the ride.

All in all, it was a nice little cruise -- mostly flat, so easy pedaling, but lots of pedestrian obstacles to mess with my average speed! (trailside entertainment: two mini pinschers -- on leash -- taking on two REALLY BIG dogs -- also on leash -- those little guys have huge heart! There are some on our other routes that are always chasing DH. They seem to like to tackle the biggest guys they can find!)

Karen in Boise

[ace]

Thanks for the advice, Jobob. I do put GU2O in my 100 oz. Camelbak, so I'm getting electrolytes and calories. Then I have an Accelerade or Endurox when I get home, which helps a lot. Last year I was having horrible problems getting sick after rides- I'd come home and have a headache for 24 hours. I came to the realization that because of my body weight and the fact that I'm a big sweat-er anyway, I need to drink A LOT, and I need a constant source of calories and electrolytes for any ride over 30 miles, depending on the temperature. Not sure what's causing the cramping. I think I'm pretty deconditioned at the moment because of my knee injury, so a long ride in the heat just takes it all out of me.

[Crankin]

Wasn't sure if the weather would hold, but we were able to test out the route for our club's "new members" ride next week. Well, we didn't need to pre ride it, but one of the other leaders who is a friend of mine did, so we met her around 2:30 in Concord Center. She rides at a slower speed than we do, but we were bound and determined to ride at a relaxed pace today (my back is acting weird and my husband had been planting all morning), so she did a great job staying fairly close to us. It was really nice out, rolling hills, and good conversation. The rain held off until we got back to the start.
22.4 miles. I didn't even look at my computer for the rest. I'm supposed to go on a 35-40 mile hill ride (Groton/Lost Lake) today, but it looks yucky out. Right now it's only 48 and cloudy, with rain predicted. I need to get out there, since we are going to the White Mountains for Memorial Day for a club weekend. The first day is a 50 mile ride with a lot of climbing and right now I am not sure if I could do it. Well, I could, but it would be slow and painful.

[Kathi]

My ride today is on the map that Pedal Wrench posted for the first day of Ride the Rockies. It was 20 miles round trip.

http://www.routeslip.com/routes/26242

If you look at the lower right hand corner of the map, at the junction of I-70 and C-470 you will see a green space. That's Bear Creek Park. I live in Lakewood and can ride from my house up the Bear Creek trail to the park.

I headed toward Morrison on the trail, rode though a golf course and up and over a hill called Mt. Carbon into the park. I only have 80 miles for the season so the climb up was a little slow, plus I had to climb back up on my return.

It was a gorgeous day here in Denver, sunny and temps close to 80. After the rain and snow on Tues. it was a nice change of pace.

Lots of cyclists out on the road in the park and the creek was running with water. I haven't seen so much water running since I left Cincy!

My ride ended with another climb from the Bear Creek Valley to my house.

Tomorrow, I'm riding with our bicycle club. 1st time out with them this year, it's a 30 mile flat ride.

[Celeste]

Had our weekly Saturday training ride with our TNT group. Back out to Chappell Hill, TX. Last time we were there it was Easter weekend and it was freezing cold and sleeting. I broke a cleat and wound up driving as extra Sag wagon.

This time it was nice and warm, no wind hardly at all. Qutie nice. I did ride today but only made it 50 miles. Planned route was 65!

This is only my second week on hills due to broken cleat that one week. Grrr! The hills were kicking my butt today! I was doing ok for most of the ride. Coach was teaching me more about hill climbing and how to use the momentum and sling shot over the next.

Whew!! After about 100+ hills and 50 miles...My brain had had enough! It was fried! I just could not shift and deal with one more mentally. I was having to stop after each hill and psyche myself up for the next...That, and my body was sweating but I was getting chills....Don't know what that was about. DH said I was very red in the face.

So, 50 miles for second week on hills and this was a real challenge. I may not have made it the whole way, but still feel pretty good about it. Sort of.

[SadieKate]

In retrospect, I'm very glad I took a pass on the SLO Wildflower this weekend, I'm obviously lacking in stamina right now & I heard it was really hot down there.

YOu think so? Normal avg high of 77. A record 98 was hit. Many of us had temps of 100+ showing on our computers. Homey's heels were sinking into the asphault at stops.

Shades of the Chico Wildflower 3 years ago. Lesson learned - do not let SK and Bubba sign-up for any ride called a Wildflower ride. Good news is no one in our group hurled. I'll write up a report later.

http://www.weatherunderground.com/cg...KPRB&almanac=1

[Veronica]

We worked the Devil Mountain Double, two different rest stops. At least one rider got a helicopter ride out from the Junction with heat related problems. I don't know if he was with DMD or the Mount Hamilton Challenge.

We had a lot of DNFs on DMD because of the heat. At one point we had three SAG cars go by our rest stop on Hamilton, one right after the other, all filled with riders.

We took two riders who DNFed to Sunol to get their lights and then drove the rest of the course. There was a section of road that got torn up this week - Castro Valley Rd. I think. We were following a recumbent and he tipped over in front of us. I am so glad that we were behind him because he was REALLY hard to see in the dark and he could have so easily been run over at that point.

We stopped and checked on him. He said he was okay and I helped him check out his bike.

It was an interesting day.

V.

[7rider]

DH and I did 41 miles from the house to Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C. and back at a 15.7 mph pace. Was a nice ride. Had a couple of guys latch onto our wheels, so DH had to push much harder than he intended (keeping his "race face" on, as he said. Not showing any effort at all), just to try to put the hurt on these guys. Alas, we couldn't shake 'em and they just got a free ride for his efforts. Uh...me, too!
I hit a max speed of 73 mph, according to my Garmin! Woo Hoo. Discovery?? Hello?? Where do I sign??
Silly computers......

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

Group of friends and I drove 45 min from Tulsa to do "Flower Power" down in Muskogee. Yes..everyone..come on... sing it with me, "I'm just an Okie from Muskkk-OH-gi.." LOL Craziness... drive nearly an hr to pay $25 to ride 68 miles of HILLS. yeah... We're nuts. LOL
One hill on the ride map was labeled "respectable hill"... OMG.. the hills before it looked like freekin walls to me.. and I was warned that the "respectable hill" was about a mile long and worse. GUT CHECK!
All in all, it was a great ride. I thank my TRIPLE (and weaving) for making it up all hills without walking any!! On that nasty one though.. if any cars had come along and ruined my pacing, I would have been done-for. LOL I had an avg speed of 5mph on that hill, and that was lucky! HA. I'm surprised I didn't just tip over..going that slow.
Fun note... I did pass a GUY who'd given up before 1/2-way up. He was standing on the side of the road gasping. I think he lost part of his lung somewhere on the spokes. La la lahhh..here I come..mashing and weaving...right on up - no problem. I just wanted to puke at the top and I had sweat dripping off my sunglasses and nose, but hey... THIS IS FUN, right? heehee

Beautiful day... started at 56 and by the end of the ride it was about 80. Low winds... couldn't ask for anything better. Worth all the pain and sweat.

[Jo-n-NY]

This is the first time I am posting a ride report. I had my first club ride of the year. I normally would not have road with the club today, Saturday because of time and other things I have on my platter over the weekend. But I had to make time for this. The AAA was putting on their annual Bike Rodeo at one of the Elementary Schools, actually a school that is next door to the one I went to. They asked our bike club to help out. Our president thought that anyone who wants to be a part of this will meet at the regular ride & time meeting place, and we would take a long route to the school, volunteer our two hours of showing bike safety through all the activities the AAA set up then ride back.

This was so much fun. We got in a 20 mile ride, the route was great with some nice hills. I finally was able to see how my Ruby road up a hill. I kept up very nicely with everyone (I just love this group) even doing stretches of 17 & 20mph. I didn't know how fast I was going until I looked at my computer. Before heading back to the parking lot they stopped for bagel and coffee break that they usually do mid ride.

Oh also very important...it was so much fun working with these little kids grades K-4. My part was to teach them hand signals which I did with another club rider. AAA chalked out a little course with turns. I left with a smile on my face all day long.

Now I cannot wait to be able to ride with the club beginning in June or July.

~ JoAnn

[Fredwina]

Here's mine. It was an adventure. And a half!