4th of July Rides!

[Crankin]

Bah!!! It's been raining in a tropical like manner here for like 2 weeks. I was sick last week, so I didn't care, but I planned to ride everyday this weekend. So far, I got in 31 miles on Wednesday and 16 yesterday, but this morning it was just misty and drizzly and not really warm either, so we took a short power walk before going off to July 4th festivities.
Of course now, at 8:15 PM it's dry and the sun is poking out on its way down.
I hope tomorrow I can ride in the morning as we have another party in the late PM. Sunday we go to Fitchburg to see the crit.

[withm]

40 miles with a stop at Trap Pond State Park for a snack, then another stop at the Blueberry Farm and we all got blueberry ice cream. It was 90o and hot. I ended up with a blotchy heat rash on tops of my legs.

Was going to go to the pool after but figured the water would be too hot, so I took a shower in my outside shower, and stayed inside the A/C the rest of the afternoon. Was going to walk down to the boardwalk to see fireworks but radar shows severe t-stosrms about to descend upon us and wreak havoc on the crowds at the beach. Maybe they can postpone it till tomororow.

[Blueberry]

We didn't ride today - we paddled. It was lovely (even if it was a lake, instead of the ocean).

Lisa-

I have a funny DH comment too - I've been riding more, and commented last night that I *though* I might be getting stronger. His comment: yes, you don't suck as much on the back of the tandem. It was supposed to be a complement, but

[7rider]

We awoke to a light rain so opted out of the N2 ride with the gang. They ended up reconvening at 9, just when we were enjoying our leisurely breakfast and an extra cup of coffee.
So...we did our "anniversary ride" today (instead of tomorrow, as we planned). We rode into Rock Creek Park - met up with a guy on a beautiful custom Bilenky with S&S couplings...and it makes me think ..."Hmmm, I could do that with my old Axiom and turn it into a travel bike!" Also ran into an old friend of DH's who was cruising thru the park on a fixie. Ouch!
The positives about riding thru Rock Creek Park: Closed to traffic on weekends and holidays in sections, so it's a nice wide "path". It's usually 10 degrees cooler than the 'burbs due to the trees and creek. We usually run into someone we know, so it becomes a social event.
The negatives about riding thru Rock Creek Park: Closed to traffic means packs of joggers, in-line skaters, and families with kids running rampant make riding a challenge. Oppressive humidity due to the tree coverage and creek. We usually run into someone we know, so it becomes a social event!
And....the oppressive humidity tends to hold the fetid stench of the ever-present road kill that lines the road (or managed to run off the road into the woods before dying). Blech. So much for getting out for a bike ride for a little exercise and FRESH AIR!!!!
Stopped at the LBS...it was closed.
Got in a noodling 35 miles.

[JLMitchell]

15 miles today, but I was cheated out of 30. I rode to a family thing and it went pretty well. I filled up on good food, but my return trip was thwarted when they realized I was going to ride back, too! I was basically pushed into a car and taken home. Bummer, but there's always tomorrow.

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

Nice lively group ride today. Seemed like it was all hills and rollers except for about 5 miles. Somehow, I "worked" less on this ride - I suspect its because I was in a group. Normally on these longer rides lately, I've been solo.

54 miles 16.6mph avg 25Kcal/mile

vs my Wednesday ride
39 miles, 15.6mph avg 28Kcal/mile

Interesting stats, yes?
more miles, faster pace = less work than fewer miles, slower pace

Remind your fast pace-line loving friends of these things.... Today's ride had more hills and longer hills than my Wed ride (and not just b/c of the extra miles).

Another set of figures for your consideration... my last Saturday solo ride:
65 miles 14.6mph avg 27Kcal/mile (good mixture of hills and rollers, flats)


Hey - I'm an accountant...can't blame me for likin' da number games!