Weds April 22nd Rides

[Duck on Wheels]

Did my commute route + an extra hill detour on the way home. Took along the Garmin. Found out I don't have to be embarrassed about spinning my heart rate back down after the first two little hills up from my street to the plateau towards work. They're short, but they're about 15% each. My nemesis hill, a mile beyond work and about a half mile long, tops out at 9%, but it's the long slog of it that gets to me. There are other hills between home and work that are steeper, not quite as steep as the first two and not quite as short, but shorter than Fortunalia and no big problem for me now. Anyhooo ... I made it to campus stopping only as traffic required and not sweaty enough to need a shower, then made Fortunalia with one stop about 2/3 up. The encouraging thing about that was that I can start up again on an 8-9% grade; I don't have to walk the rest just because my HR got to where I was afraid of getting wobbly. Other good news: The bike trail from campus up to the top of Fortunalia has been swept. No more layer of leftover sand from the winter. And the weather was very cooperative: It rained while I was at work, but was clear on my morning ride to campus and again after work on my hill climb and homeward ride. And it's getting lighter and lighter. 930pm now and still light outside.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I didn't ride today, but I did my 4 mile fitness walk....it really helps my hips joints in ways that biking can't.

[Heifzilla]

I did a 12 mile ride on the big bike trail nearby. Going out was awful with a stiff headwind. I averaged about 8 mph :P Coming back was great with the tailwind. I ended up with a 10.1mph average. They were also doing prairie burns, so some of the trail was very smoky and my lungs didn't care for that. My feet were doing the numb thing on the way back, though...I haven't really had that with this saddle but today I did. Good ride, though.

[canonsue]

Wow! After purchasing my new Surly LHT (Long Haul Trucker), I finally get to write a ride report. We have had so much snow lately, I have not had the opportunity to ride it. Well today, I did a 10 mile ride on the paved Bear Creek Bike Trail

I started out with a friend and we went a nice slow pace. After about 2.5 miles, she turned back. I then proceeded to bike up the big, big hill. I made it most of the way before I stopped and rested a minute or so. I do love those granny gears on the LHT. I expect with time and increased fitness, these kinds of hills won't be a problem. (Now the hills around my house will still be a challenge.)

The only discomfort came from the saddle near the end of the ride. I need to toughen my butt a bit and I should also receive my brooks tomorrow.

-Sue

[ASammy1]

I did my regular Wednesday after work ride at the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. 16.8 miles in 1 hr 3 min. Not too fast, but got me out on the bike.

I wore the wrong shorts too. I now remember why this particular pair is at the bottom of the drawer

[cosc]

My first of the season warm weather ride with shortsl YEAAAAAA! My ride was 20 miles with crosswinds both ways. I've been fighting a bad cold- sore throat for a week but actually felt better riding than lazing around the house. Today-Thursday, I called school to take a sick day. Teaching music is hard with no voice and hacking, but riding bike easy. You suppose my employers would understand that if they see me out on my bike? Ummmmm?

[fidlfreek]

Cosc - of course they'd understand! On a bike you aren't contagious...unless someone helps you fix a flat or something

My Wednesday ride. Turned out to be WICKED hot in Texas. Like mid-90s. BF took me out for a "good workout" on the road bike in the middle of the afternoon. Trying to keep up w/ him my heartrate topped 185 on a hill on the way to his chosen magical interval location. And it was windy and I yelled and ended up sitting under a shady bridge for 30 minutes to recover while he did his intervals. Did I mention I had already done a 40 minute pool workout earlier in the day? Oh, and that I ended up w/ a sunburn.

Wow. This felt like confessing to a priest. Much better now. Am I doomed now? Will BF always discount me as a wus from now on? Does a 185 heartrate in a 20 mph wind at 94 degrees sound a little extreme?