August 12 Rides

[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!

[Kalidurga]

Good luck next week, Nicole!