Saturday 28th rides

[OakLeaf]

Yesterday was the "deluxe budget tour" our club puts on every year. Normally the ride is the club's main fundraiser. This year, the weather forecast wasn't cooperative and not too many people showed up to ride, so I think the club just broke even on the expenses

First thing yesterday morning the weather report looked a little bit better than what they'd been forecasting, so I decided to ride. I'd spent a whole day last week marking routes, so I was off the hook for ride-day volunteering

I chose the metric route. I'd dawdled a bit getting out of bed and deciding on the weather, and then once I arrived at the start I hung out with the other club members for a little bit, so I didn't get on the road until after 8:30 and almost everyone had already left. One other guy was starting out at the same time. He asked about my pace, and told me it would be okay to drop him - I figured I'd hang with him to begin with, anyhow, because he didn't seem to be riding that much slower than I was.

The first 10 miles or so of the ride went out of town on the bike trail. We caught a couple of families (probably doing the 29-miler) and were passed by a couple of faster riders. The guy I was with asked about The Hill on the route. I told him how soon to expect it, and that yes it is long (for Ohio - almost a mile), but it's not super-steep and it's mostly mental - just don't look at where it flattens out before the next curve and think that's the top of the hill , and he would be fine.

I was taking my time warming up, but I was starting to see that my pace was probably not going to be compatible with his. As soon as we left the bike path, there's a weetie little grade (literally 2%) and he slowed WAY down from the 15-16 mph we'd been doing on the trail. Sorry, that just wasn't going to work for me. I said goodbye and was down the road. Because of the late hour and the fact that so few riders had showed up to begin with, the rest of the ride was mostly on my own, which I was okay with.

Darn it, as I crested the hill, a Dish Network van passed me, but he was looking for a house on the other side of the slope, so as soon as I got going nice and fast on the descent, he pulled up and I had to put the brakes on. Not hard - he didn't cut me off or anything - I was just enjoying the descent, and I hate losing momentum!

I got the best of the weather, such as it was, I think. I never got more than spit on by rain, although there was about an 8-10 mile stretch of road that was pretty wet. I was glad to have worn my clear lenses, because the sun never came out enough to want sunglasses. The riders on the 29-mile route got drenched, apparently - which is really too bad since obviously the riders on the shorter route tend to be the ones least likely to take a soaking in stride. I hope they came through with their love of cycling intact! Early and/or faster riders on the century route should've been completely dry, but any stragglers were at risk of the severe thunderstorms that blew through the county around 4:00. There were two men and two women I met at the 35-mile rest stop, which was where the 62 and 100 mile routes split. I hope they didn't get caught out.

Anyway, I made it back - 7 minutes faster and with a lower average HR than I'd done it last year, even though I was just cruising for a lot of the ride. Once I got home, as badly as I needed a shower, there was one more thing I just had to do - pick 5 pints of black raspberries along my lane before the storm hit Yummy, had some with my cereal this morning.

The storm brought another tree down in my front yard. That's two now that will have to be cut up before we can cut the grass - which is going to be a while, because right now when you even walk on my grass, 1/2" of water comes up around your feet, forget about driving the tractor. And there's more rain forecast for the next two days


... Fredwina, are you sure you're not insane? great job, looking forward to your report!

[oneskineejosie]

Hi All! Rode about 20 miles of hill intervals with my tri training group. We started out at 7am, and it was already hot and super-humid (gotta love summer in New England!)

We did a loop through a beautiful neighborhood 5 times. Gorgeous scenery from the top of the hill, and absolutely no traffic, but killer to get up there (at points it is a 13% grade, which for me, a newbie, is ). My quads were BURNIN!!! It was difficult, but I felt very accomplished afterwards and I think I'm going to start doing this same workout once a week since it's only a 3 mile ride from my house. And the downhills are fun

[7rider]

I did 30 miles thru Rock Creek Park in D.C. yesterday. I didn't do the group ride, as I was still on west coast time and opted to sleep in. Since it was a hot, sticky morning, Rock Creek park is usually the best option (it's often just sticky, and usually significantly less hot in there). Had a bit of an accident that resulted in a hurt hand (don't ask) so I'm on the DL for a bit. I hope to be riding again later this week.....

[Susan126]

Crazy me . . . I started my ride at 2:30 in the heat of the day on Saturday! I wasn't thinking very clearly; I have a new bike and I just wanted to ride. I initially was going to do an early morning ride but life happened. Anyway, I got 30 miles in and payed for it. I did hydrate but that sun just wiped me out. I had leg cramps all night long. I feel much better this morning. Did I learn my lesson? Probably not!

Another hot day in store for us here in the pacific northwest. Joe, Jackie, and I will be going for a ride this morning. We hope to finish before noon. Hopefully we will stick to the plan today!