April 4 rides

[Crankin]

I did my first climb of Oak Hill today. We were going to do a 27 mile ride from Acton to Littleton, Harvard, Bolton, Stow, Boxboro, and back, but it was 52 and cloudy when we left and the winds were gusting up to 30 or so. I started sweating like crazy on a climb at about mile 4. Then we started up Oak Hill. I decided to get in the zone and not really try. However, my speed for the 4 mile climb was not much lower than it usually is, except for when the wind was blowing so hard, I could barely move. At one point as I was going over a highway overpass, I got blown to the other side of the road and thought for sure I was going down, but, it stopped. When we got to Harvard Center, we ate a snack and decided to cut the ride short from here. It was getting colder and rain was threatening. As we headed out from here, there were a lot of cars, something going on at the school. I saw one of my former neighbors, who yelled out to me, which was nice, since I was climbing. At this point my DH and my friend's DH took off. I was essentially on my own for the last 12 miles, except for one point where my friend passed me on a downhill, but then I dropped her. I was freezing! I had on very light weight wool socks and toe covers, which were not doing the job. After I got past my old neighborhood, I started booking it; I felt some rain drops, too. The wind made it virtually impossible to get above 16 except for the last 2 miles, where I did push it.
My legs felt dead from running yesterday, but they are fine now. I hope to do a flat 20 mile ride tomorrow before I have to go to that shower...

[skinimini]

Easy 26 miles on the Silver Comet Trail today. I'm finally getting used to the road shoes--only one minor topple and that was dew related. It was, however, right in front of several other people. Beautiful, pollen-filled, spring day in Atlanta!

[Tuckervill]

We did the club ride with lunch at the Flying Burrito after for a club meeting. It was so darned windy! It took us a good hour and a half to go 15 miles! I mean, 30 mph sustained winds, and one gust moved me sideways through an intersection in front of traffic. ::yikes:: I was terrified every time someone came up to chat because I was moving all over the road.

My new bike was perfect, except the seat was down a little too low and I had to adjust it about two miles in. Now my knees are screaming.

Karen

[Mr. Bloom]

My strongest ride yet on the identical course along the windy Ohio River.

20 miles @ 19mph

[Aggie_Ama]

Decided with allergies in full fighting form and winds blowing hard I would go shopping for cacti and succulents out in the Hill County. I am such a fair weather cyclist but I did get some neat plants.

[emily_in_nc]

I had no idea it had been so long 'til I checked my log; have been strictly riding MTB with a work friend since DH got heavily into baseball last year, so we just didn't ride at all last year. It was great to be back on the road! We rode 3.5 miles to the post office, then took a longer way back home for a total of 13 miles. It was 74 degrees, sunny, breezy, and I felt GREAT! No dogs, no irate drivers, light traffic on rural roads. At one point we had a tailwind and were sailing over little rollers at 19 mph -- such fun! I felt strong, so I guess the MTB, running, Pilates, etc has kept me in pretty good shape, despite no road riding. I've been in a great mood ever since the ride too - weeeeeee!

[ASammy1]

Rode 53 miles today for the first time ever! Started off in Jamestown, made our way to and through Colonial Williamsburg, and then Yorktown. Then took the same route back. We got lost twice but eventually found our way back on track.

Before today, the longest ride I've ever done was 30 flat miles through VB farm (flat) country. Today was my first attempt at hills +23 miles more than my longest. I feel good, but I'm exhausted.