Aug 25, It's Saturday!

[SouthernBelle]

What! No one has posted a Sat ride yet?

I rode in the HOT100 today. Signed up for the metric as our terrible heat has kept my mileage down. Rode through some pretty countryside and some really rotten hills. But got some great descents for that. Here's the elevation profile:



Sagged in the last 10 miles because my feet were hurting so much and it was so hot. Riders were dropping like flies. But it took so long to get back, I would have gotten back quicker riding. My sag driver was a little, um, flaky. Very sweet though.

[Tri Girl]

HOLY COW that's one crazy elevation map! Congrats on getting out there and riding (and toughing it out).
Now- take it easy and sit in the COOL!

[SouthernBelle]

Now- take it easy and sit in the COOL!

I definitely am!! AC and ceiling fan.

[Zen]

If your weather was like ours I can understand the rider drop-out. Phew!
24 miles was enough for me.

[cyclingmom01]

21 miles this morning with beautiful weather & beautiful scenery. A friend's chain messed up & she had to turn back. Ended up just enjoying the day and not riding for a particular time. I'm riding again tomorrow and will work on time then.

[michelem]

Approximately 34 miles with 1950 ft. of climbing. Got dropped on the downhill again. I didn't even touch the brakes and was pedaling my rear off in the hardest gears. I'm thinking that next time I need to start out at the front on the downhill and just not worry about holding anyone back - they can pass if they want - but, at least maybe this way I won't fall off the back from the get-go. All in all, a very satisfying ride though, with close to a 16 mph average (not bad considering one of the climbs at 13% grade).

[Starfish]

Nice riding SouthernBelle!!

We have cold windy rain today. We just aren't getting a summer this year.

Elliptical and ab work at the gym for me today. Guess it is time to start cross training in the pool, etc.

[emily_in_nc]

22.7 mile ride to the post office and farmer's market for loads of maters, squash, and peppers....yummmmmm! HOT day, sunny, humid, high of 99, though when we were riding it was 80-89. Kinda windy too. Glad we got out but equally glad it was a relatively short ride. We were pretty spent and soaking wet when done.

Emily

[Fredwina]

I had been using Saturday as my car free day. Today was was the club beach party in Newport Beach. So what's a Carbon Conscious gal to do? Ride to the party. and back!
116 miles
Banked on the way back between Corona and Ontario. should have had more than one burger
More to come....

[Veronica]

I rode 85 miles today with Jobob. Thom started with us, but he really likes metrics so he turned around nine miles from the summit.

I didn't sleep well last night - a little nervous about this ride. I really haven't ridden anything long since my Eastern Sierra Double and with all the climbing in this - 7,600 feet... YIKES!

I was really pleased with my performance though. I felt great all day. Kept to my schedule for food and drink. So maybe a third double this fall will be possible.

V.

[tygab]

One of the things I love about this area - want forests to ride among? got them. Want hills to climb? got them. Want big hills/little mountains? Ocean views? Yep...

Met with a coworker who has started cycling this year, and a friend of his to ride early this am. We rode from Salisbury MA (I think) to Kittery ME and back for a total of around 45 miles. The ride was gorgeous, route along the Seacoast Century which is quite flat and has many ocean/beach vistas. This is definitely the flattest ride I've done on roads and a very different on bike view from my usual.

It was in the upper 90s and humid (temp feel over 100 I believe), and the coworker rides at a slow pace with many breaks, which prolonged the time out in the heat by hours so at the end I was pretty cooked (maybe literally). Spent a good amount of time riding ahead and then waiting (coworker's friend could ride circles around either of us but took the diligent role of staying with the coworker). This was nice because I am developing a little more confidence in riding alone, but I still need some fixit skills.

Coworker's buddy had ridden to/from the departure point so was getting closer to 80 miles for the day...

But, it was beautiful scenery and in the morning we were treated to occasional blasts of cold air coming right off the water which was outstanding. We got to see surfers, the brightly covered beach with sun umbrellas, chairs, towels, people, the waves crashing on the shore...

I would definitely like to do this route again in the fall after the tourists are gone. There was an awful lot of beach traffic today (no surprise).

Got cut off by a SUV yahoo darting across traffic to get into a parking lot, I don't even think he looked to see me... but I had seen/anticipated him so problem averted. I would have liked to tell him to pay more attention tho since I did feel he was not looking out for obstacles in his quest to get a parking spot.

All in all a great ride and tomorrow's weather may be iffy, with t-storms. We'll see. At least that should cool it off here. I feel sorry for those who've been dealing with this heat for weeks, a day is enough for me! But I am getting pretty used to riding on the hot days - drink lots, and find shade or AC as needed!

[RolliePollie]

Approximately 34 miles with 1950 ft. of climbing. Got dropped on the downhill again. I didn't even touch the brakes and was pedaling my rear off in the hardest gears. I'm thinking that next time I need to start out at the front on the downhill and just not worry about holding anyone back - they can pass if they want - but, at least maybe this way I won't fall off the back from the get-go. All in all, a very satisfying ride though, with close to a 16 mph average (not bad considering one of the climbs at 13% grade).

Wow, Michele! Great speed average! I rode 32 miles today with about 2,400' of climbing and I only averaged 13.2 My slowest hill got me down to 4.1, but my top speed was 36.4. I tend to always average in the 12.8-13.9 range riding around here. Unless it's a shorter ride...then I can break 14.

I can't imagine riding where it's hot AND humid. When I got home from my ride, it was about 85 degrees (and not humid) and I felt like I was ready to die from heatstroke!

[michelem]

Sara - My top speed was only around 32 - however, that is really fast for me! I am getting much more confident, due in big part to the fact that I am getting more and more used to my bike. I went in for another fit tweak this week and I think we finally got it. Anyway, you did a lot more climbing than I did today, so your average sounds great! Also, maybe not, but for me I tend to have a higher average when I ride with a group - not from drafting, 'cause I don't get close enough for that - but I think I just push myself more than when I'm alone. And the encouraging words from the group don't hurt either.

I signed up for the Tahoe Sierra (60-miler, not the full century). I sure hope you decide to do it too!

Tygab - Sounds like you live in cycling paradise!

Veronica - 7,600 feet of climbing?!?!

Fredwina - 116 miles?!?!

And the rest of you sound like you had all kinds of weather to contend with. Good for you for getting out (or to the gym) anyway!

[dex]

I spent my afternoon and early evening riding Eva (my new singlespeed) from cafe to cafe (to cafe to cafe) up, down and around my hilly Seattle neighborhood. I'm not sure I've ever owned a more fun bike in my life. There are those that tell me I'll be saying the same thing again when I finally get around to going fixed. We'll see...eventually. It was only about 10 miles total, but it felt awesome.

And then tonight, I read this (I realize it's about SS mountain bikes, but the idea still holds):

To ride one gear is natural.
Sprints do not last all morning,
Descents do not last all day.

The follower of singlespeeding
is at one with his bike.
He who rides smoothly
Experiences flow.
He who loses the trail
Becomes confused.
When you are at one with your bike,
The trail welcomes you.
When you conserve your momentum,
The flow is always there.
When you are at one with pain,
The pain is experienced willingly.

He who does not get out of the saddle
Will not make it to the top of the hill.

Oh, and getting to return home to leftover Chinese food and Amaretto Milano cookies? Awesome.

[Zen]

He who does not get out of the saddle
Will not make it to the top of the hill.[/INDENT]

That definitely applies only to SS.