February 2 Rides

[HillSlugger]

26.6 miles. Just a bit warmer than last week. Strange that today I thought that 34 degrees was more than warm enough.

[RoadRaven]

Saturday = race day

So I did a 37km circuitt race on my Saturday... Its 3 laps and the last two times I have raced and completed this course I was dropped in the first half of the first lap.
I was not dropped until half way through the second lap this time, so I feel really good about it. An excellent intense training ride for me, and with my warm up and cool down I was able to log 55km on BikeJ.

My partner was 3rd in his grade, and my 14yo was 2nd in his. There was a big crash about 15 bikes went down) in my son's grade on the last corner before the finishing straight so was very relieved that that he was NOT brought down. He was pleased that none of his cycling mates were hurt - we had to do a ring around of a few we hadn't seen finish just to check up.
Two were taken away in an ambulance with minor injuries, and it is always a strange sigh of relief one breathes when one realises the ambulance is not for one of your own.

[smilingcat]

Oh Raven,

I hope the kids injuries were really minor like a road rash. I never like seeing crashes and pile-ups.

healing wishes to the injured kids,
smilingcat

[RoadRaven]

Thanks Cat


Mostly mild road rash, alot of them ended up on grass and broke each others fall. There was one teenager I think who was in the ambulance, but didn't know that person. The other was a man about my age who rides with my partner in training rides and races in my son's grade - he was a bit woozy and they took him away to check for concussion.

My son's age-mates/cycling buddies were all ok, a couple were involved with minor injuries but were able to hop back on their bikes and cross the finish line.

Its funny though, as soon as you realise they are up and moving and they answer that they are fine, you want to check how the bike's are. Some of these kids pay for everything themselves and would sooner have a broken bone which is four weeks inconvenience rather than a broken bike which would take months to replace in terms of earnings...

[KathiCville]

Rode 20 miles yesterday in mid-40s temps on one of my favorite roads. My BF did the route with me for the first time. I generally discourage him, LOL---his preferred average speed is about twice mine. He *claims* he had a good time, but I know he was itching to go faster and further! Ah well, today he's doing a tough MTB ride out in the Blue Ridge with his serious cycling buddies. Ironically, having him with me actually slowed me down a little---I registered my slowest mph av in 11 rides since January 1!

[ummbnb]

It snowed on Friday night and the streets are still a mess. Waaaahhhhh

[tulip]

15 miles in one hour flat. It was coldish, 50 or a bit less, and I took a long time to warm up. Hammered up a hill, the only one.

[Velobambina]

Black ice precluded any riding on pavement, so I spent some time w/Coach Troy. Afterward, husband said, "let's go ride on the C&O." Figured it would be OK since it's gravel/dirt & my mountain bike has some awesome nubby tires. The ride there was dicey (in the car)--black ice all over the roads. Once we arrived safely, unpacked the bikes, and got going, we were pleased to find it relatively easy riding. There were a few icy patches and some puddles that had frozen over with a very thin crust of ice. I had fun, plowing through those. The cold ground really was a plus---it didn't start getting muddy til the very end of the ride, when the temps went up to unfreeze the ground. Saw a good many dogs with their owners, which is a regular treat when I ride the canal tow path.

Went only 15 miles but loved every minute.

[IFjane]

Black ice precluded any riding on pavement, so I spent some time w/Coach Troy. Afterward, husband said, "let's go ride on the C&O." Figured it would be OK since it's gravel/dirt & my mountain bike has some awesome nubby tires. The ride there was dicey (in the car)--black ice all over the roads. Once we arrived safely, unpacked the bikes, and got going, we were pleased to find it relatively easy riding. There were a few icy patches and some puddles that had frozen over with a very thin crust of ice. I had fun, plowing through those. The cold ground really was a plus---it didn't start getting muddy til the very end of the ride, when the temps went up to unfreeze the ground. Saw a good many dogs with their owners, which is a regular treat when I ride the canal tow path.

Went only 15 miles but loved every minute.

Wow, VB, it's funny what a difference a few miles (location-wise, that is) makes! No black ice here, thank goodness.

Upper 40's, a tiny bit of sun, light wind. 36 miles. Longest road ride for '08!

[Geonz]

40 very rigorous miles going to the Illini Chill, riding the 20 miles and riding back. Studded tyres made things relatively safe (we got 6 inches on Thurs/Fri) but I'm a wimp so I dabbed a lot when there was drifting (talkin' 2-3 inches max here - they had plowed and mashed stuff down) & when it got slushy when it crept above freezing. Probably averaged 10-11 mph but on a reg'lar bike would have been more like 16-17... it was good to be TIRED at the end
I think my longest ride for '08, which is funny considering I did three metrics the last week of the year Funny waht having the week off work will do!