August 9th Saturday RIDES

[Crankin]

Ha! I bet you did enjoy your 24 tooth little gear. We planned a 50 mile ride based on a ride I had done with a friend, but then the sun started going in and out; given the way the weather has been, we didn't want to be that far away from home. So we did a great 22 mile ride from the house; we did the 2 flattest loops we can possibly do from our house. There are 2 small hills besides the hill back to my house.
It was SO nice for it to be only 72 out and partly cloudy. Saw lots of new cyclists out there, too.
22 miles, 15.9 average.
Now we are heading off to EMS to buy the last of our supplies for our Mass Bike Tour Across MA. We actually set up the tent in the driveway this morning, so we won't look like dorks the first night. I am praying it doesn't rain.

[7rider]

I started out with DH on the N2 this a.m. But I was sick last night and not feeling too spry - a problem on this ride. My friend was on the ride - she usually joins us at the start and then peels off early to head back to swap kid-care with her DH so he can ride (and then go and open the LBS). So, I peeled off with her and I think we gabbed the whole way back! I did a loop through Rock Creek Park after she left - what a place to people watch! - and then went over to the shop to get yelled at by the mechanic for my casual approach to bike maintenance! He tightened, lubed, and adjusted, and my bike is as good as new - and I rode away head down, recognizing the error of my ways. Thank you, Pepper!!!
Ended up with 50 miles on the day at 17.2 mph.

[uforgot]

I rode the Rolla Lions Club trail with Fastdogs today. Once around, and it took about an hour. I love her new Gary Fisher bike and I had a chance to try out my new Specialized Myka. Also thanks to her for finding the spiderwebs first!

[kfergos]

We actually set up the tent in the driveway this morning, so we won't look like dorks the first night. I am praying it doesn't rain.

Good call. On the STP my dad and I saw some people who had clearly never put up their tent before. They stood around for a long time examining the poles and the loops in the tent, clearly desperately confused, until a neighbor took pity on them and helped them out. Props for practicing ahead, rather than giving people a couple hours' (seriously!) enjoyment out of watching your attempts.

My ride today was rather sobering: I did a metric century for the MS Manchester Ride, thinking, "Hey, I just trained for and completed two centuries back to back on July 12 and 13. How hard can one metric century be?" Well, turns out that all my taking it easy since my Big Ride has taken its toll. I ride to work every day as always, but I'd only done one fairly easy 50-mile ride since then. This Manchester metric century wasn't awful, but my butt muscles and quads hurt the first 20 miles until I realized I couldn't ride a the 16-mph pace I did my other long rides in. Plus it was pretty hilly; my Garmin said we went up one 27% (!) grade and a couple others in the low to mid 20%s. I take that with a grain of salt, but still, steep. When I slowed down, things got better, but it made me realize that legs don't stay in shape for long rides indefinitely. I have a lot of miles to ride to stay in shape until my last century in October.

[OakLeaf]

Breakfast ride with the club. It's an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day - I actually needed my arm warmers when we started out, but was ready to shed them by about 9:30. We headed out some roads I'd never ridden before. I had no idea there was anything so FLAT in this county! Some of the ride I just cruised, some of it I pushed with a couple of the stronger riders. Anyway it felt really good after my interval run yesterday. I'm tired now, but that's mostly from lack of sleep - my legs feel ready for another go.

53.14 miles at a 16.4 moving average, only 1466 feet of climbing.

[mudmucker]

After providing expert testimony on a wind farm project I am working on, I am home from West Virginia. The hearings were successful. I have not been on the bike for close to 2 weeks because of my work schedule. I also hadn't seen my father for a while. He just got this free bike from a friend and he's been riding on bike paths where he lives. He is 81 years old. I said, throw the bike in the truck and come on out my way. There's a paved bike path in Gardner that would be perfect. So today we did 7 miles of this bike path and we had a total blast. I think it is so cool that I can bike with my 81 year old father. He was going 14 mph in some spots. I made some adjustments for him, but the bike is too small. He wants to go to an LBS to get a bike that fits him. His riding experience will be so much better. I have a mountain bike and a steel utility bike I am overhauling right now and they are down to the frame. I would have liked to use the mt bike today - the carbon fiber frame was a little overkill. I rode in my mt biking shorts and used my sneakers on the Look pedals.

In photo 3, dad is riding off into the sunset (amongst the invasive species)

[Mr. Bloom]

I think it is so cool that I can bike with my 81 year old father. He was going 14 mph in some spots.

You tell your dad that if I live to be 81, I'd feel good if I looked half as strong and rode half as fast! That's outstanding!

We did our typical 19 miles on the tri-course.

The whether here this weekend is outstanding!

[Dogmama]

42 miles for me - fairly flat terrain. Humid day, though. C'mon Autumn!

Seemed more difficult than usual. Have been trying to stave off a cold & haven't been sleeping well.

Off to San Francisco on Monday. Will probably rent one of those gawd-awful bikes & go across the bridge to Sausalito with DH. He loves that. I'm terrified of heights and bikes that don't shift when they're supposed to. I'm spoiled

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just have to say it is so inspiring to read what all you others did today! What great rides and great stories!

Over here, I finally did lie down- just as DH was getting up. Now I'm up again and getting ready to make fresh corn on the cob and tomato-cucumber salad for dinner.....but poor DH had to go back to lying down again!- he says he doesn't feel so great. Maybe the tough hills and the sun.
I gave him some iced green tea and he's resting some more.

Mudmucker- you are so lucky to have that experience with your father! How wonderful!

[mudmucker]

Mudmucker- you are so lucky to have that experience with your father! How wonderful!

Believe me, I know this and cherish every moment when we do things like this.

[MrsB]

42 mile loop, 16 mph average moving time. Took us about 3.5 hours because we stopped at a seafood place for lunch. No flat tires though! LOL. Of course not because this time we were prepared.

[jobob]

aka_kim, melissam, Mel's SIL Johanna, dachshund, Veronica, V's husband Thom, LeeBob and I rode up Mt Diablo today.

It was a first for Mel, Johanna, and I think for dachshund as well. Congratulations ladies!

For those of us who made it up to the summit just once*, it was 29 miles and 3420 ft of climbing, according to my computer anyhow.

We had a fun late lunch afterwards at Fuzio's in Dublin. Since my bad influence was there, I had two beers. Two and a half if anyone was keeping track. A fun day with great people.

* A certain sandbagging overachiever went and did the last 100 yard 17% grade climb to the summit twice. Skinny little brat.