CRASH! Today's report

[SouthernBelle]

Sandra, I had to laugh. Most of us have something quite similar at least once. Me, more than once. It's funny as long as our medals aren't too bad.

[Mr. Bloom]

Yep... my first slow speed crash was in a new subdivision in front of a bunch of construction workers in line at a port-a-john... Not cool for a guy

[Bad JuJu]

Yikes--glad to hear you're both OK, well relatively anyway.

I once wasn't paying attention and the bike ran off the pavement--I couldn't get my feet out of the toeclips fast enough and ended up falling over in slow motion (like the tricycle guy in "Laugh-in" for those of you old enough to remember that LOL)--with many many witnesses, of course.

BUT, I had a great ride today! I had been having major back pain on my rides, had the shortest possible stem extension on my bike so couldn't do anything else there. I was at the end of my rope and considered trying a recumbent bike. I took one last pass at my LBS, and the guy suggested that I push the saddle forward, but be careful I don't end up messing up my KOP position. Long story short--it worked! Today I did 40 miles and ended up with no pain and energy to spare. My knees aren't complaining, so I guess I'm OK there. Little twinges in my shoulders but I think that's just getting accustomed to the new position. Ya-hoo!

[SouthernBelle]

Guess this is the ride report thread for today.

Headed out on my long Sat ride. Decided after the big evil hill last week, I would take on Microwave Hill, so named because it's the spot where radio & TV stations put their towers. I knew it is a longer hill, but overall not as steep. Did fine. Stopped after the steepest part to catch my breath, but that was my only stop. Nifty things on that road. The green, green grass of home; or rather the house that song bought. Three zebras in with some donkeys. The local castle.

Rode through the Glade and talked to 2 riders coming out of the General Store as I was going in. Ran into 2 more guys as I came out and rode with them for a while. Saw a car upside down in the road. Then the guys went straight as they were going to the Superspeedway and I was going left to Norene.

At the Norene turnoff, there is a garden at the corner with a big tree, a bench and some big rock. I took a chance that the owners wouldn't mind me stopping and having a snack in the shade. The lady drove up just as I was finishing up my clifbar. She stopped and it turned out that her son is a cyclist so I can stop there whenever I want.

Turned Left and headed to Statesville. Thru Statesville toward Watertown. Did walk a bit here as the hill was big and my feet and legs were getting unhappy.

Stopped in Watertown and got ice and water. Umm. Water good. Ice good.

Then wound around on the back roads towards home, including favorite descent, straight, steep and fast. Could be longer. I wanted to set a new PB there. As I topped off the climb, started shifting madly. As I hit speed, my bad hands crept to the brake levers for a sec. "No, bad hands!" Did slow me down though. Slid my butt back, used my knees to clamp on the top tube when I wasn't pedaling. Couldn't wait to download the ride to see what I did there.

42.7 mph. If I'd kept off the brakes, woulda been more. Bad, evil hands.

61.53 miles.

[stacie]

yesterday, a huge mastiff stuck his head out the window and gave the loudest WWWWOOOOOOFFFF as he passed. I almost wrecked into the curb. He was huge and really loud. I was really zoning out at the time so he completely caught me off guard. I realized that I was heading for the curb just in time. whew.