August 12 Rides

[sandra]

Thanks for the pic. It's a very clever idea! I have this visual of myself saying "WAIT!" while I dig around in my seat bag for my pepper spray. My fear is also that the pepper spray would drift back on me instead of the attacker.

[RolliePollie]

Thanks for the pic. It's a very clever idea! I have this visual of myself saying "WAIT!" while I dig around in my seat bag for my pepper spray. My fear is also that the pepper spray would drift back on me instead of the attacker.

I read a post somewhere about someone who sprayed a dog and inadvertently also sprayed her water bottles. Spicy water would NOT be a good thing.

[maryellen]

today i went on my first group ride since my accident last year. it was too early for me to be nervous about it. surprised at how difficult i'm finding it to get my mileage up.

today (sunday) about 40 miles in westchester and fairfield counties. took the train up to westchester and returned home via connecticut. the best possible choice on a warm day.

[ehirsch83]

Did a 50 miler yesterday, longest ride yet since coming back off of the ankle injury. Really wanted to do 60, but I overslept and didn't leave till 7:30. The South Florida heat was to much for me to continue. By the time I hit the turn around point for the 50 miles I was almost done with both water bottles, and I had about 10 miles until I got to a place to refill. So I turned around, stopped at 7-11 on the way home, got some gatorade and mixed it with 50% water in both water bottles. Good ride overall, felt like I could of done the 60 leg wise, just not heat wise. Every time I got stopped at a light, or the time I got stopped at a draw bridge, the intensity of the heat really hit me! Averaged 18mph before cool down, 17.7 with cool down, pretty happy!

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks for the pic. It's a very clever idea! I have this visual of myself saying "WAIT!" while I dig around in my seat bag for my pepper spray. My fear is also that the pepper spray would drift back on me instead of the attacker.

Pepper spray is pretty useless in your seat bag. If you can't rig it to your handlebars, just put it in your jersey pocket. I have a "Halt holder" from Nashbar ($2!) which attaches HALT (brand) pepper spray to my handlebars for very easy access. Won't fit other brands, though. I have never had to use it on a human, only dogs (very rarely!)

Emily

[Crankin]

Tested our annual September "cookout" ride. We rode 39.5 miles, 3600 ft. of climbing. This ride is probably the most challenging local ride I do. We played with the route a bit, taking out one of the climbs and changing the last part a bit. We ate lunch on top of the biggest climb in Bolton, on the side of the road, by an old barn at an apple farm. It really feels like you are way up in Vermont at this spot. It was pretty hot (85), but 85% of this ride is very shaded. Otherwise, I would have been miserable. My average was 14.6, which, considering the climbing is pretty good for me.

[tygab]

We are back on the Cape to visit with family and turned in an 18 mile ride on our MTBs. We did not bring the road bikes because of the salt air, sand etc but my husband already said he wished we had. We could store them in the E no problem.

Anyway, I am good riding my seasoned Hardrock though, it is a nice (if not heavy) change of pace... We did one short off road section to a park but the rest were roads. Plenty of hills for challenge. Saw a lot of tourers but even the roadies were nice (which as we know doesn't always happen when not looking roadie). Was a warm lower or mid 80s.

A bit overcast today. Not sure what today's activities are...
would be nice to do more trails here.

[luvs2ride]

DH and I did a popular loop near our home. Only 24 miles but over 3,000 feet of climbing. It was a first for me and my legs were "cooked." DH does it at 240 pounds with only a double chain ring. I have a triple and it was still difficult! That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right !?! And, did I mention that it was a HOT ride also (low 90's) !!!

[tjf9]

DH and I did about 8 miles with me towing the kids. Pretty flat, along the Columbia River. The route passes right by the airport, so the boys really enjoyed watching the planes go by.

We considered briefly doing the Bridge Pedal - a ride around Portland where you ride over all of the bridges in the city - but it has been described as a rolling traffic jam and that didn't sound too appealing. From reading accounts of the ride this morning, it sounded even worse (many people had to walk 2 or 3 of the bridges and there was a one hour wait to cross another one). Anyone here do it?

[HillSlugger]

I did my last training ride on the Iron Girl route for next Sunday's triathlon. It was my plan to hold back a bit on the ride to see if it would help out my legs for the run. Even though I coasted down many of the descents instead of pushing them hard like usual, I ended up doing the route a little bit faster than last week. Maybe my ascents are improving!