June 9 Rides - Great Weather Everywhere!

[RolliePollie]

Only 17 miles today, but tomorrow I'm going to try a new route which should be about 35 miles. I've really noticed that my stamina is improving, so I planned to complete today's ride with no rest stops. That plan was put on the back burner when I was getting ready to run a stop sign and a Sheriff's car pulled up. Needless to say, I unclipped really fast and stopped. Since I was stopped anyway, it was a good excuse for a 5 minute break. And I happened to be in the shade so that made the rest break even more attractive.

I know running stop signs is a really bad habit (not to mention illegal), but when you're riding rural roads with no traffic, it's much easier to just keep going. Especially when the stop sign is on a steep hill!

[Alex]

A lovely 28 mile ride this afternoon with DH. We had some nice hills. Very sunny. Temps in the low 80s. I tried out my new wheels and I was fretting over an annoying rattle that seemed to emanate from the front wheel. Stopped a couple of times and couldn't identify the source. Upon arriving home, DH figured out it was the little round thingie that goes around the valve on the tube. So, he took it off. You don't need those, right? I'm hoping that fixes the rattle cuz these wheels are FAST!

Alex

[Dr. Liz]

Today was the Sugarhouse Criterium - my second criterium ever. Keep in mind that I'm still healing from a broken arm from ski racing (bad landing off a BIG jump (70+ feet in the air for me, and I was going slow) - occured in early March) - 9 screws and a really cool plate in my arm. My PT says I can do everything but play golf and crash on my bike. So I'm racing Crits.... Yet again, proof that a Ph.D. is no indication of practical intelligence....

Actually, I did quite well. (Much to my surprise!) I was riding in the Women's Cat 4s, and I was in the lead group up until about 10 yards before the final lap, when I made a bad decision to switch to my smaller front chain ring for the uphill to the start/finish line (there was a big downhill, and then an uphill). Of course, my chain popped off, and despite my frantic shifting, I couldn't get it back on, and coasted to a stop halfway up the hill to the line for the final lap, watching the pack pull away from me. DH was Right There and helped me get my chain back on (I was a little rattled - I. Was. So. Close.!!!!), and gave me a little encouragement to get me moving back up the hill.

I finished in the same minute as the winner, and was NOT DFL (again, much to my surprise!), but was 11th out of 15. I think I could have been in the top 5, if it weren't for my rookie mistake of shifting (I was tired, but probably could have grunted out the hill on my big chain ring, and even if I had been dropped, could have caught up again on the next downhill). But that's all 'woulda, coulda, shoulda'. I've got to show up with the goods.

BUT.... For my second crit EVER, I'm thrilled that I stayed with the lead group. When I ride in our local series, the guys and the gals ride together, and the pace is just too tough for me - the only time I did it, I only made it 2 laps before I got dropped.... And it IS my first year racing. So I'm actually quite pleased (even if I did make a stupid mistake!!! Which I'm not so pleased about!!! )

So, not counting warm-up/cool-down, 13.5-ish miles, 21.5 mph average, top speed of 37.5 mph. Not bad. Could be better, but that will come in time!

[Nokomis]

42 miles in the lovely Pacific NW chill & rain. I don't have rain gear, our group didn't have fenders, and we all were soggy by the time we finished the ride. Time to shop for wool & actual waterproof gear - DH's loaner jacket was not!

[BikerJen]

Rode 25 today (Sunday). Questionned my sanity at one point, but kept going. I'd like to be able to ride 50 by the end of the year. I know that doesn't sound like a huge goal, but I have a series of mountain bike races coming up soon, so I'm not sure how the two goals will co-exist.