Sunday April 19 rides

[txred9876]

Today, I went out riding with a couple clubmates for the first time. There were 3 others, one about my level and two seasoned ironmen/women in training for this year's.
The guy pullled us all the way to the base of our mountain of the day, about 40k at least.

This is my favorite love/hate mountain, I call it the b!tch, and consists of about 200m elevation gain in the first 5K and then about 500 in the second 5-6k. I'd never done it so early in the season, the pastures up on the mtn still had snow.
I made it - maybe in the light red zone - of course my heart rate was probably about 30 beats higher than those iron people at roughly the same speed. How. do. they. do it??!

This was followed by a nice ride home because these guys knew exactly where to go so the ride home was almost all downhill. I'm a scaredycat but I had a blast.
We went so fast - once there was a deep dip followed by a really rather steep uphill of maybe 100m and we almost just rolled over it. There's such an advantage to speed :-)

came home and did the complete recovery program - protein, bath, hydrate, self-massage, stretching. phew. Now I think I get a nap.

You deserve one!!!! I think I might need one too...lol

[txred9876]

I fell really good this weekend.....energy is still doing well. I went to the Velaway (3.2 mile two lane paved - only bikes and roller blades).

I met up with a friend who has not been on her bike in 9 years!!! I followed her for the first two times and then she went home. I did the last 12.8 miles in just under an hour. I felt like I could have ridden more but my saddle sucks!

I stopped by the lbs and had them fit me with a new one!!!!

tina

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Good going, Tina!


DH and I did a very enjoyable and relaxing 25 mile ride today after breakfast.
I found another TINY newborn painted turtle on the road again- it's shell was exactly one inch diameter! Smallest I'd ever seen. There was a pond right near the road so I walked on down to it and put him in.

[7rider]

Did the shop ride. Had a few newbies and the C-ride was pretty crowded. I met a new TE'er....PFunk12. Unfortunately, DH and I arrived late at the start (per usual, sadly) and I didn't get to meet her at the start. I was asking for her at a light and a bunch of folks pointed her out behind me. We waved...and went with the green. The next light was the split point for the B- and C-rides. I went straight with the C's, but she went left with the larger group...the B's. I was a little nervous how she'd do on that ride, since it was her first time with the group. I talked to a bunch of folks at the end of the ride, and they all said she ROCKED. Smooth pedal style, no rocking in the saddle, held her line nicely. A real pro. So props to Pfunk12 and I hope to ride with you again soon!

Later in the day, DH and I went to the Carl Dolan races up in Columbia. We saw 3 friends race the men's Cat 4/5 race, and it was great. BUT....I lost my brand new Oakley Straight Jackets there. I am sick with anger over it. I take some consolation in knowing I got them for a relative song on Chainlove...but still.... Ugh.

[Triskeliongirl]

Today was our Fiesta Wildflower ride. The organizer did a great job, all turns marked so I never once had to look at my map, police to get us through intersections so we didn't have to stop, and a great lunch waiting for us upon our return. It was HARD, a lot of wind, but I pushed myself hard on my new bike and did a personal best time. Even got a lot of comments, even from a competing bike shop owner, about how well I was riding since I got my cervelo. Weather was great too, all in all just a great day. Sorry, no pics, I was in too much of a rush to make a good time!

[hipmama]

I'm in love with my new bike! Can't believe I rode it with my running shoes on the clipless pedals but couldn't get new shoes fast enough for me to pass up todays sun and not take her out to play. Went with a new neighborhood rider for 28 miles, couple of good climbs but mostly flat. My speed is much better on the new girl- averaged about 18mph and hit over 20 on some up hills- woohoo! My feet were cramping at the end from my foot set up though- getting shoes this week, have a couple rainy days coming so it won't be so torturous if it's not immediate.

[pfunk12]

Thanks for the kind words, 7Rider! Doing the club ride was a blast! I could kick myself for not coming out sooner to join you. Since it was my first group ride ever, it was a huge confidence booster for me. Not only was it fun but I met a lot of nice people. And I finally got that satisfying feeling that I used to get after my long marathon training runs. Try to show up early next time so we can ride together

[Crankin]

Did a 32 mile, 2,500 ft. climbing ride today and I am hurting! It was much nicer out than I expected, almost 60 and very sunny. But, oh those winds. Coming straight out of the east, so the whole second half of the ride was into a strong headwind, of course, after my legs were tired from climbing.
Did my second climb of Oak Hill, going at my usual speed of 8-10 for the 4.5 miles. There were lots of people training there today. One young woman and guy, sped ahead of us, when I came upon them, on the side of the road, with him lying prone in the grass . I was pretty nervous, approaching this scene, but when I asked if they needed help, she said, "Oh no, we're doing intervals." I didn't say anything in return, but I guess I didn't know that intervals include feeling so bad, you have to lie on the side of the road! Very strange.
We headed into Bolton, from Harvard center and then took a flatter route back, coming out of farm country, onto Rt. 117, which is busy. My DH and friend's DH got a bit ahead of me, because by this time the wind was vicious and my back was killing me, when I came upon them, by the side of the road. My DH had a flat on the day when he had no tools or tubes; yesterday he had his big bag on the bike for when we lead a ride and then he took it off, but left the little one in the car. So our friend went ahead, I gave DH the tools and a tube/CO2 and off we went. I got a little second wind, since by now we were riding on familiar roads I like. With about 2-3 miles left to go to our friend's house, where our car was, another young couple pulled out of a parking lot and tried to catch us. My friend saw them (she was a bit behind us) and said they were really trying, but despite their youth, couldn't do it. I just wanted to get back! At one point, when going over a highway overpass, my legs were cramping like crazy, but we made it.
Tomorrow I am marching in the Patriot's Day parade (3 miles) with the military family group and that will be my only exercise!