4th of July Rides!

[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!