4th of July Rides

[Chile Pepper]

I took my bike to the bike spa today. She's getting a full manicure, complete with new handlebar tape. We leave for California on Friday. Bring on the summer!

[DebW]

Headed out for a 40 mile rid this morning. Planned to head south on Rt. 27, but after 3 miles hit a detour sign. Rode another 5 miles and tried to get back to Rt. 27. It was still closed, and a parade was heading down the street. Watched the parade for a few minutes, then planned another route. Got to Natick center and found more parade/festival to be avoided. Final got past all that by riding on Rt. 135, 16, 115, 126. Final tally: 40.7 miles in 2.5 hours. Great weather this morning, now starting to rain.

[makbike]

I decided to join the LBC for it's 4th of July century. This one started in Boston, Kentucky and went to Munfordville, Kentucky. I was surprised that it was not all that hilly. Now don't get me wrong we had some hills to climb but this area of Kentucky has a lot of hills. The one and only major climb was about 3 - 4 miles long and it was nasty. We also fought a strong headwind the first 50 miles. The winds were blowing at around 15 mph - so demoralizing. When we approached the big climb my average speed was 16.8 mph and by the time we reached the top it had fallen to 15.4. It basically was a slow grind all the way to the top. I was able to maintain this average up to the first store stop. The next 25 miles found us fighting the rollers and the wind and my average speed dropped even more, down to 14.7 mph and I was very unhappy. The talk at lunch centered around the wind and the hopes that since this was basically and out and back would mean one thing, we would have a great tailwind to push us home. How sweet it was and we were flying back to our cars. It was so nice to have that gentle push the last 50 miles. By the time we reached the 3rd store stop my average speed had climbed to 15.7 and I was feeling very strong and confident. Small groups formed along the way and it was evident everyone was enjoying the wind at their backs. When we finally made it back to our cars, 101.15 miles later, my average speed was up to 16.3 and I wanted to do a "happy dance" in the parking lot. However, I did not and decided instead to treat myself to large chocolate milkshake before I got on the expressway to head home. It was a great ride and I just so happy to have ridden a century 3 weeks and 1 day after my surgery - life is so good and I'm so blessed. Happy 4th to one an all!

[Kimmyt]

Congrats Makbike on the great century time!

Just got back from ride #2 here, 43 miles so around 80 total here today.

Lady was all decked out for the ride (and not a car honked at us, when we encountered one).



Ended up riding the last tough hilly 10 miles home in the pouring rain, but we still had fun!!

K.

[Kimmyt]

Also, Trek, you should look around for 'cafe tables' or 'bistro' sets, they are the very small (enough for a coffee and scone!) round tables that usually come with 2 chairs. I think Target.com has some...

[ladyicon]

It sounds like we all had a very pleasant biking morning . I did a July 4th ride with about 1000 other people I did about 28 miles on some very steep hills. My legs were just burning with lactic acid and the sun was in my face, but before I knew it I was at the top (hey, somebody has to bring up the rear ). The ride felt like an accomplishment and they had free beer at the end and a big party in the park .
I am now home for the day and we will be bbq'ing steaks later. It is so great to be an American!!

[divingbiker]

Kalidurga, MDHillSlug, Regina and her husband, my neighbors Anna and Julie, and I did a 9.75 mile MTB ride in Rosaryville State Park. As usual, it was great fun. This was MDHS's first ride in the woods, on her new Jamis Coda Comp with knobby tires. I overcame my jitters after about 3-4 miles, as this was my first MTB ride after my face plant a few weeks ago.

[Trek420]

Also, Trek, you should look around for 'cafe tables' or 'bistro' sets, they are the very small (enough for a coffee and scone!) round tables that usually come with 2 chairs. I think Target.com has some...

Thanks Kimmyt,
Have you thought about leaving the flags on if drivers treat you better? I've noticed even here in the bluest of blue states that I'm treated better in my one and only Red White and Blue jersey (A Rails to Trails jersey).

I'm shopping impaired, hate to shop unless it's bike stuff of course. I already checked Target', Lowes, Sears, Orchard Supply, a couple local nursery-garden supply spots, Homeless Depot, I refuse to go to Wallmart so don't tell me they have "bistro sets", don't care.... my local Ace has some , they are pricey but I know I can get 'em there and they are very simple and elegant not unlike me.

Onward to Shopzilla to compare! Also may check around Sonoma when I go Friday to see my Mom.

Sorry for the hijack, gals.

[7rider]

Great ride with the D.C. T.E. gals - and my DH.
As DivingBiker noted, a bunch of us rode Rosaryville State Park for a sweet singletrack fix on Independence Day. With a few extra spurs, I got in a hair over 11 miles.
DH left our group when he hooked up with friends and discovered a whole new section of the park - definitely the "R" rated section to our "G" - well, perhaps PG-13 - ride!
Check out our route at: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Rosaryville-SP

[Trek420]

I took my bike to the bike spa today. She's getting a full manicure, complete with new handlebar tape. We leave for California on Friday. Bring on the summer!

Summer is waiting for you here. In the Bay Area the weather's been hot today and yesterday, supposed to cool down later this week.

I went swimming, first time in years.

My gym has a pool at the location nearest home, there are actually several public pools nearby, outdoors and probably more fun but since this is part of my membership why not go?

I'll need goggles if I keep this up. My eyes gave out before it did. But it felt great. Thanks TE swimming thread for reminding me how much I love to swim.

After that I stopped by Sears "where America shops", I'm looking for a small patio table. Everything I see is humongous. I'll keep looking. Dear Marketing/design people, some of us just want room for 2 coffee cups, maybe a scone. That's all I need. I don't need something that fills the entire patio.

Now back home keeping my dog cool.