Sept 23 rides

[bmccasland]

Looks like no one has started a thread for today.

Our MS training ride was cancelled on friday due to a threatening tropical storm in the Gulf, but the storm turned north early and missed us. I'm on an email list from one of the MS organizers, so she put together Plan B - a levee ride this morning.

There were a couple of groups - about 15 each, and the group I was in headed down river to the path end there, turned to do the entire 20 mile length to the other end heading up river. (The other group headed upriver first.) It was a terrific ride! Some faster riders stayed in front to pull - going "slow" for them, keeping us at 18-20 mph. Was fun to be on the train that passed other riders for a change. Riding solo I can't keep that pace. Up and back in a little over 2 hours, average speed 18.3 mph according to my computer, 44 miles. We even kept a pretty good pace coming back into the wind.

The only bummer was the humidity. That tropical storm is supposed to bring rain this afternoon. Otherwise it was great. Lungs cooperated. I'm a happy cyclist.

[Aggie_Ama]

Only did 16 miles again today. My allergies are out of control and I am very stressed about my husband's wrecked truck. Just didn't have the heart/mind/lungs for riding today. We are still wondering if we will get to go to Arkansas for our century next weekend, it depends if the truck is totaled or not.

[NJBikeGal]

Enjoying the first day of "autumn"...80 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, and 80 miles under our tires. It was a great day to spend on the road with my team as we wind down from a fantastic season....we have our new recruit meet and greet in a few weeks, so thoughts will soon be on next year's race season. No rest for the weary!

[tygab]

I haven't done a longer/more difficult ride in a while. Recently, I've done short and/or slow rides, and they've been sporadic. Last week was a 10 mile race ride but it didn't feel long enough to settle in.

So, today my husband and I went for a local ride. We live in a hilly area and I was immediately up in my HR in the 180s. Didn't help that my husband took off like a bat at mile 2 or 3 for his "warm up" - we exchanged some good natured discussion of what a warm up is. He hadn't ridden for even longer so I imagine it was part out of joy to be on the bike. But I did recover and we settled down to a more maintainable pace.

Weather was perfect - sunny, dry, upper 70s, and the trees are already turning here since it's been a dry late summer. It was beautiful out, but I didn't feel like stopping for photos anywhere, I just wanted to ride.

Eventually I settled in after our first bigger uphills, and we toured some of our usual areas around Hollis NH. Noticed some people swimming at the state park which is closed, and I've been wondering if I could swim there myself before it gets too cold again. I don't know. It is only 7 miles from the house by the way we went so next summer I could easily ride up there.

Saw several other road riders out but fewer than I would have expected, on such a beautiful day. Maybe they all went to do the Seacoast Century.

We rode back down from Amherst and my husband decided he was done but I wanted to keep going. So, I dropped him off at the house and did another 12 or so miles for a total of 37. I enjoyed both riding with him and riding a bit on my own.

More days with this weather would be fine by me!

[elk]

I did my second trail ride ever.. ....6... miles and it was just plain easy fun!!
I am starting to feel Way more fit...every week a little more. (Fanno Creek Greenway today way out and back)

Plus I did it on my new Brooks B67s and by golly I think its a keeper!!!
I am sooooo excited about my new bike!!!

elk

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

58 miles of more hills and me whining like a baby. I am NOT ready for the century next Saturday.. wah wahhh

(maybe if I whine enough now, I'll be all whined out by Saturday?

[redrhodie]

Rode my short route, 13 miles, since there was a chaffing issue with my shorts. Dern shorts!

When I got almost to my turn-off to home, a young(er than me) roadie guy pulled up next to me and asked how much further I was going. I think he wanted to ride with me ! Guess Jessica Rabbit (that's my bike) is living up to her reputation! She's a man eater! Smiled, made my turn, and rode home to DBF, but that made my day. My new bike's hot!

[7rider]

Oh, c'mon, BabyBlue. You can do it. Just keep telling yourself that. At least you didn't spend this weekend home in bed, sick, as I did the week before my big hilly century. I survived. I can't say I "thrived," but I did it and it was a great accomplishment at the end. You can do it. I know it!
Whining just saps you energy. Save the energy for the ride! Good luck with it.

Today, DH and I did the shop ride with our LBS. I did fine up until the second half. After the mid-point regroup point, 4 others and I got dropped like hot rocks, and lost further ground due to some long traffic lights. The pace was incredibly fast once we picked up the A-ride and I just didn't have the legs to hang. I should have know it was going to be fast, when 3 of us, at the beginning of the ride, rode through the last gate at Rock Creek Park. Chandler looked behind him and said "Whoa, where are all the people behind us??" I replied "We ARE the people behind us!" Just 3 miles into it, and we were barely hanging on to the back of the pack. It always makes you feel just a teensy bit better to look behind you and see others from the ride. But when you look back, and there's no one, and you realize YOU are the last rider. Whew! Man, that hurts.

But, the last survivor and I did the extra lap, and folks were still hanging out in the shop when I got back (and gave me a good healthy ribbing for wandering in so late).

So...the damage was: 38.9 miles at 17.1 mph. Ugh. Off the bike now for 3 days, and I'll relish the break.

[makbike]

BabyBlue just remember to ride your ride not weekend. Don't allow yourself to get caught up in how fast others are riding. Find your rhythm early and stick to it and it will be a grand day!

I passed on today's century, legs simply were too tired after yesterday's hammerfest. I joined the club for a 22 mile ride mid-afternoon. It is mostly flat and my legs appreciated that little factor. They did scream out when I headed up the one big hill on the route but as always they carried me to the top. The best part of today's ride was riding with a good friend whom I have not seen for quite some time. We spent the ride catching up and bless her heart listened patiently to me as I shared my pain over my recent breakup with my partner. We went out after the ride for a drink and I'm hoping she will come back to some of the upcoming club rides - she is a real joy to be around and offers great advice and insight.

[Fredwina]

despite not getting started till 4 due to church commitments, I still got in 35. I went up to The Hyundai pavilion at Glen Helen park:

[chibiker]

54 miles today at an avg of 17.... with a pretty decent crosswind... at least 10mph, ugggh. Never really got a tail wind because we went more south than we did east... but a good strong ride nevertheless

I am psyched for Apple Cider Century next week... still debating if I want to get up at 4:00am to head out in time to do the full century, hmmmmmmmmmmmmm????????

[KnottedYet]

I got to draaaa-aaaaft! I got to draaaaa-aaaaaaft!

(and I had a draft beer!)

Met up with SGTiger's dh, Boy In A Kilt. (SGTiger home with ookie-boogies, so she couldn't ride today. Darn!) We went about 15 miles to Oktoberfest, had some beer, and rode back. Looked for Teigyr and HeatherErin et al, but didn't see them at Oktoberfest.

He taught me to draft, and I drafted! WHoooooHOOOOoooEEEEEEE! That's some fun! I love how you get into that sweet spot, and suddenly you don't have to pedal nearly as hard and you're going a gazillion miles an hour faster!

Hot diggety!

This was my first longish ride on the BMX pedals. Let me tell you, they are GREAT platform pedals! Rode through some bumpy asphalt areas that normally bounce me off my platforms, but my feet stayed right with the BMX pedals. SKnot wants his BMX pedals back (Kona Jacksh*ts), so I might be buying some of my own soon. (like maybe some Speedplay Drilliums?)

[slmdunc]

Rode 42 miles today, in Malibu, north on the PCH - including my first climb up Encinal Canyon. It is not *supposed* to be one of the harder climbs in the LA area, but it *is* almost 6 miles up and a 1,678 foot elevation gain. That, along with the considerable "rollers" and formidable head wind on the PCH had me pooped. I was already not at my best today - started late, didn't eat enough, and just never could get it together to feel great on the bike... although the weather today was gorgeous.

So there I was, chugging up Encinal Canyon, trying to just keep going - and insult is added to injury when I AM PASSED BY A DUDE ON A RECUMBENT. Now that's already not fun... and THEN, right as I'm trying to huff out the words "nice job" as he passes - he has the gall to say to me, "This is the first time I've ever passed an upright on this hill. Shame on you." And he pedaled on his merry way.

I spent the rest of the grueling pedal uphill contemplating his meaning. Was he just giving me good-natured ribbing? Was he trying to motivate me to pick up the pace? Was he just a royal A-HOLE?

Whatever the answer - his comment did not help. I wish I could say the anger fueled me up the hill, but instead it seemed to make it harder. I have only been riding on my road bike for a short couple of months - and I have to remind myself that I AM doing well. I know we all have off days... but I've only met encouragement and positive thinking from other bikers - until this guy today.

Okay - sorry for the whoa-as-me story. I did make it in the end. The screaming downhill on Mulholland made up for the pain up into the canyon My legs are wobbly tonight, but I feel accomplished.

Next week will be better!

[crazycanuck]

I don't normally post about my rides but i will about yesterdays.

I did a 40km team time trial cycling event in York. (www.cyclosportif.com.au) There were 5 of us and we were out to ride & not go fast as a few of the girls were recovering from the flu. The last time i biked through York it was on my 200km in May.

Anywho, we were the last to leave and started off at about 23km/hr which was fine. It had been a while since i'd biked with a group and the speed actually helped me build my confidence. We discussed what speed we wanted to stay at and agreed on 25km/hr. The roads were relatively quiet but had one dork zoom past us..gee don't slow down for cyclists or anything ok.. That and an ambulance! Dunno what happened?

We pushed the speed up a bit to 28km/hr and that felt cool. IT was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, a slight wind and flat roads. I never felt i'd gotten into something over my head and we were all ok with our speed. ON the way back it was great as we sat at 30km/hr & watched the A(i think 70km) distance riders zoom past. Most of the folks who cycled the A & B distances are preparing for the upcoming Tri season.

It was a great day out. I forgot my sunscreen though and have to remind myself that yes summer's just about here.

C

[Jo-n-NY]

I also do not usually post my rides, but I had a real enjoyable one yesterday. 53 miles from Massapeuqa into Sayville with my old time cycling buddy and my new cycling buddy. Hi Tina if you see this

It was a perfect weather day, sunshine, temps in the 70's, although it probably reached 80 towards the end of the ride. There was a strong North wind so it was a cross wind for us but we did hit a strong west wind also on the way back. We formed a pace line on the way back and this was a first for me.

I am riding a century ride next Saturday for our bike club members only. Since it is all going east, I will be happy if we have this west wind for the ride.

I usually ride Sundays solo, so this was a real treat as it was last Sunday to have company.

~ JoAnn