April 28 ride reports

[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.

[sgtiger]

I rode 41 miles yesterday starting from just north of the U-district and going around the southern loop of Lake Washington and back. I only averaged a little over 10mph on what other riders 'round here consider flat. Oh, well. At least I beat my average from last week and I didn't feel wiped out afterwards.

On a side note, I was kind of impressed with myself when we stopped to rest at a park and I could see the distance around the lake that I had ridden. Last year I would not have thought I could ever ride that far. Much less that I would ever do a century or a double century(signed-up for STP). Me from a year ago would have though that I'd have to be nuts to do that.

[SheFly]

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.

DH had arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Weds, and since he is off the bike, I actually have little to no motivation to ride this weekend... I was supposed to race Palmer today, and even bagged that.

Robyn - the Groton/Lost Lake loop is fun, but in this weather, I just want to curl up on the couch . Where in the Whites are you going on Mem Day? We do A LOT of riding up there on a regular basis - great loops and lots of climbing.

SheFly (who WILL get back on her bike this week)

[carolp]

I participated in Lifecycle "Day on the Ride" yesterday. 76 miles with a good bit of hill climbing. The ride is to simulate what a day on the actual lifecycle ride will be like. I am doing the ride with my husband on our tandem. (www.aidslifecycle.org/6009 to see my training blog) and it definitely had its moments. Luckily, we bonked at different times so we could keep pedaling. Today we will ride, but not as far.

We only have a month to be able to do seven days of rides like this, and I gotta tell you, I'm nervous! Any tips for this newbie biker with an almost one-year-old titanium knee?

Carol in NoCal

[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.