August 4 rides

[RolliePollie]

Excellent 50.6 mile ride today with a great friend of mine on the American River Bike Trail in Sacramento. We rode to Old Sacramento, got some super yummy fruit smoothies, and headed back up river. It was hot on the way back from Old Sac, but not unbearable. The trail wasn't overly crowded and it's so pretty to ride right next to the river. Too bad we didn't bring our bathing suits! I was especially enjoying the FLAT terrain. It's been a while since I did a nice flat ride. Then when we were done, we went to Costco for lunch...can't beat $1.50 for a giant hot dog & soda!

[makbike]

Woke up early this morning to join the club for a ride. However, I did not know which ride I would complete - the 52 mile route or the century. I will admit I was very scared of the century given the area of southern Indiana it was going to cover and the terrain profile http://www.kybikerides.org/ridemaps/4452.htm. The profile made it look very difficult, IMO. Given the route was a figure 8 I knew at about the 40 mile mark I would have to make up my mind - head back to the car or continue. The first part of the ride was great but the group was moving slow for everyone feared the worse and did not want to go out like gang busters. At the 40 mile mark, given the very flat terrain we had covered, I decided to finish the century. It was a beautiful route and for the most part very flat or nice rollers that carried you along. After the lunch stop the temps seemed to sky rocket and I really felt the heat. I rode with a friend and she kept asking me "where are the hills?" I concluded they must be at the end and guess what, the last 20 miles or so were just that - lots of climbing. Even with this nasty combination at the end I had a good time albeit a very slow ride (averaged 15.4 mph). I really think I could have posted a much faster speed but like most in the group I worried about what was ahead and played it rather conservatively. Oh well, nothing lost here.

[Mr. Bloom]

So, I had a 9AM haircut appointment at the Mall 9.5 miles from our house.

I rode!

Familiar roads half the distance, but then busy highways with rocky shoulders, not good!!

Anyway, I made good time on the trek...only to have the consternation of a couple of mall employees get uptight when I insisted on taking my bike into the mall (there are no racks...and also no "no bikes" signs). I was prepared for the debate about why I couldn't have a bike in the mall when I was standing right next to cars from a local dealership...but they didn't push the issue against my insistence)

On the return trek, on the highway, I only had one "bubba" who wouldn't get over into the clear other lane and clipped by kind of close at 60mph in his 1974 Chevy Pick-up (License # 915975), but otherwise a good ride on a HOT day.

So, I saved 1 gallon of gas AND got my exercise.

[BikeDutchess]

Did an 80 mile club ride today. Tried to pace myself so I have enough energy to do another long ride tomorrow. Luckily I found someone to ride with who for the most part rode at my pace, a little slower on some stretches which was good so I wasn't tempted to hammer. Other than this annoying ongoing lower back pain thingie that I've had for the past week or so (I only feel it when I'm off the bike but the biking does seem to aggravate it) I felt good at the end. We'll see how tomorrow goes!