April 29 Ride Reports

[Crankin]

Great pics, Trisk, Deb, and Jean. Hope you didn't get rained on too much.
We were set to ride our Groton-Lost Lake loop, a 40 mile ride we lead every year and ride about 4-5 times a season. Big climbs near the end. At 9:30 the weather didn't look so great and it was still 48 out, so we called our friends and decided to ride closer to home. We set out from Acton and it began drizzling immediately. It stopped, so we headed to Harvard, via Littleton. Immediately I knew my lungs would be funky. That little wheeze started, but I kept going. All 4 of us had sort of bad attitudes, so we planned the easiest of the hill climbs into Harvard and back to our friend's house. I was sweating after the first climb into Harvard center, so I took off my arm warmers and put my rain jacket back on. Of course, then we went downhill, so I froze and that didn't add to my already cranky disposition, so I put them back on.. Then we climbed up part of West Bare Hill Rd. and Scott Rd., which I did not remember as being so LOOOONG. I was in full granny, all the way down, going about 7.5 mph. But as we waited at the top for my friend, my husband said, "UH that was really hard,it's not you." The rest of the trip was basically downhill into Bolton and then back to Boxborough and Acton. Rode past my old house on very familiar roads that I miss. About 2 miles from my friend's house you have to go over a highway and there's a little hill on the street. My legs were dead. By this time we were all separated, since Brant had to go to the bathroom really bad, so he raced home and my husband tried to catch him (we just though he had gone nuts with speed) and Janine was way behind me. After that little hill, I put it in the big ring and pushed it up to about 20, to make it back to their street.
We recovered with tea and Clif bars. I'm glad I did it, but I am dead today.

[cosc]

I rode a 25 mile loop from my house.The wind was more than my fitness level allows. I so enjoyed the sun, and smell that newness of spring offers. Seems I had mostly a crosswind that I had to fight to keep the bike upright. When I got home I felt like I'd done a century -sore all over especially my weakling arms.

[SheFly]

DH got on the bike yesterday for a 30 min spin in the EASY gears trying to get his knee actually moving after his surgery on Weds.

What that means is that I RODE THE FRICKIN TRAINER AGAIN! I'll be back outside this week...

SheFly

[Crankin]

The upcoming weather looks good SheFly (except for Wed. AM). To answer your question about NH, we are staying at Applebrook B and B. I cannot remember what town it is in, but it's not far from Mt. Washington. We do 2 loops on this trip. The first day has like a 6 mile climb in the middle and then a shorter climb near the end. I can't remember how long the ride was, but I think 35-45 miles. Day 2 we drive to the Vermont border, park and ride up to the Canadian border, about 25 miles one way. It's very flat, along the river. Last year it was gray and drizzly on day 1 and about 55 out. The second day was like 85 and sunny and that got to me, almost like going from winter to summer in a day.
Getting my stuff together to do my first full commute from Concord to Hudson tomorrow. I decided that I can't ride my commuter bike (it's an old mtb), it would take me forever, it's so heavy, so I brought all my clothes in yesterday and just took the bladder out of my Camelbak, which makes a very ergonomic backpack! I still haven't decided on my route, but I have to decide if I will scoot down Barrett's Mill to the rotary over to 2A and then up Concord Rd in Acton, cutting across Rt. 2 on Piper Rd to School St., which gets me to where i usually go by car, into Stow, then Hudson. Or, I could ride to Concord Center and cross 62 into West Concord and catch School St. there. That involves a climb and I don't know how I will feel at 5:45 AM...

[SheFly]

Robyn - looking forward to some good riding this week - OUTSIDE!

I would avoid the rotary on your bicycle in the morning... Can you go up Strawberry Hill Rd to Pope, down to 2A and continue on your route that way? I think it would be safer for you than going through the rotary - especially during commute time! Be careful, and let us know how it goes.

SheFly

p.s.
Since you're commuting tomorrow this won't work, but you should try to come out to one of the NEBC women's rides that we are starting this week in Lexington Center. We'll meet each week on the green at 6:00 pm to head out for a 20 or 28 mile loop at all different ability levels. Should be a fun time, and I think I heard Deb W rumbling about coming