My longest ride yet... :)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well I just had to crow today a little bit, I set a new distance record for myself. Actually it was my DH's longest ride ever as well...70 miles!

We intended a 62 mile or so ride- our previous longest was 52 miles a couple of weeks ago.
Started out after a hearty breakfast and rode through many little towns and through many farms and wooded roads too, mostly rolling hills. It really was a beautiful ride through the countryside. The weather was just right- partly cloudy, about 75-80 degrees F, and breezy. Showers threatened but never happened. Car drivers were generally safe and courteous today.

Once we stopped to rest at a farm stand and ate all the wonderful juicy fresh strawberries we could manage to stuff down. . Later in the day we stopped at a little coffee place and gratefully rested our behinds for a while in real chairs and ate ice cream.

We took a minor wrong turn on the way back, which added a few miles, so by the time we got home about 9 hours after starting, we had gone 70 miles!

My gosh, but it was a LONG ride! I can't imagine doing a whole century just yet. (though today's ride was 10 miles longer than a "metric century"...of 100K) You ladies who do 100 mile rides are amazing!!

I actually felt just great right up until the last 15 miles or so, when I started getting tired and kind of sore all over my body. I can tell I will probably be quite sore tomorrow. I had planned a 35 mile group ride tomorrow, but I think I will rest instead!
But generally, I felt quite good during the first 55 miles, which amazed me, considering I am 53 and have only been biking for a year now. My Brooks saddle was fine, butt felt fine, legs, shoulders, neck, hands, etc. My Shebeest Ultra-D shorts were great. Seems I have finally gotten my bike fit dialed in nicely, after a year of tweaking things.

All you ladies on TE are a constant inspiration to me to keep improving my biking abilities and my fitness. I especially thought of Trek today as I rode, and the amazing effort and determination she has shown during this whole past week of grueling riding in her charity ride event. Yay Trek- enjoy your well-earned rest now!

[silver]

Congrats to you Lisa and DH too! It's one thing to meet a goal...it's another to exceed it instead

[Mr. Bloom]

Congrats to you Lisa and DH too! It's one thing to meet a goal...it's another to exceed it instead

Ooops...that was me saying that. Wrong sign on! ALthough I'm sure I speak for Silver as well.

[Alex]

Good for you, Lisa! A personal best AND such a civilized way to do it. Strawberries and ice cream. Yum! Sure beats the Sport Beans I tried today.

Alex

[Fredwina]

woohoo!!!!

[silver]

Haha! I went to give you a Way to GO, Lisa! and I already have! Well, here's another one to you! You rock! You are such an inspiration to me!!!!!

[BikerJen]

Way to go! I'm jealous. I need someone to hang out and bike with otherwise I'm Jen-Solo all the time

[RoadRaven]

Well done Lise... 70 miles is nothing to sniff at... and over rolling hills too.

My longest ride is a metric century, and I did that over flat...

Well impressed.

[SouthernBelle]

Remember ibuprofen is your friend. Good job.

[Mr. Bloom]

Remember ibuprofen is your friend.

But only afterward...never take ibuprofen before an endurance activity...hyponatremia risk.

...Biofreeze is your friend too!

And Similisan Allergy Relief Drops for the eyes!

[Velobambina]

Lisa--Way to go! Sounds like a perfect ride and of course, a superb accomplishment. Hope you aren't too sore today.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks for the words of encouragement, you guys! They really mean a lot to me.

Silver- Me and inspiration to you?? Um, I thought it was the other way around!

BikerJen- I ride "most" of the time by myself, and I really enjoy riding alone, it has its own wonderful charms. When I'm riding solo I feel more like a kid again. I love that about biking.

Everyone else- Wow, I am not too sore today! No need at all for ibuprophen, Biofreeze, or allergy stuff at all. Guess I am really lucky. I was sore during the night and had to keep switching positions in bed, but this morning I feel fine- yay!
Happily, today is a rainy wet day so I am sort of forced to stay off my bike anyway...

(hey, where'd the little icon man with the sunglasses go??)

[Bikingmomof3]

CONGRATULATIONS Lisa!!!! Well done. You are an inspiration!!

[Zen]

I'm jealous.
I want that to be me!
Like BikerJen, I usually ride alone and you know when you ride alone you don't push yourself as hard.
Like most newbs, though, I want everything to happen NOW. I've only had the bike since April
GOOD FOR YOU, JACK!
Another TE'er to emulate

[Jo-n-NY]

Lisa, you ride sounded wonderful. I am happy to hear that you are not sore today like you expected to be. That just makes it all even better.

Congratulations ~ JoAnn