august 8 rides

[Tri Girl]

Most excellent, Fredwina!!!

I did a 100 mile ride for a very wonderful Children's Hospital here in town. It was hot (99) and took me about 7.5 hours actual ride time. It was super hilly and insanely windy, but aside from that it was a GREAT day! My favorite part was the almost mile long really old yellow steel bridge. I rode with a friend who did her first century.

I forgot sunscreen on my thighs (which angered me because I always remember) and got the worst sunburn I've ever gotten. OTOH, I wore my arm coolers and my arms and shoulders stayed sunburn-free.

It really was a great day for riding, and knowing that I was doing it for a place that helps kids who may never ride a bike made doing it help me remember that I'm very blessed and lucky to be able to ride my bike.

[Crankin]

Did a great 36 mile ride, showing my DH how to combine part of a ride I did with a group with other places we usually ride. For some reason, we never ride south to start, so we headed out of Concord a new way, and although I have been on these roads a few times, before we moved to this house, it was different. Today was the perfect New England day. 75F and clear, dry, a little breezy. We headed through Sudbury, into Stow on mostly shady back roads, passing Honeypot Hill Orchards, Lake Boon, and the Stow acres Golf Club. After 18 miles we could have done one the most "monster" climbs around here, but we were both starving; it was 1:00 and I thought that having a big breakfast would have held me a bit longer. We made a stop at the Delany Reservation in Stow to eat a Luna Bar, since I didn't think I would make it to lunch.
We sat outside at our favorite cafe in west Acton and shared a sandwich. While we were eating, my friend who has been riding about a year rode by with her DH. Last Tuesday I had taken her up into the hills of Harvard for the first time and she did well. I am really proud of her! We talked for awhile and then we actually took a shorter way home, even though it involved busier roads and a climb. A very nice ride.

[Trek420]

Just to the Farmer's market. Stopped for coffee and then headed back

[HillSlugger]

My tri group had a "Brick-n-Pic", a run-bike-run followed by a picnic. Since I'm not supposed to run right now I skipped their warm up run and then headed out on the ride with them and then did another dose of riding while they ran. I think they think me "hard core" now

[Miranda]

Day 1 of my club's tour ride. Planned to do a metric century for 67mi. Total rain and mud fest. My ride company wanted to cut it short. So, 38mi instead.

But, still a great training ride imo. Lots of practice improving my skills riding in the rain and drafting (windy day as well & hot).

Learned some new bike maintenance skills about cleaning my drive-train post a muddy ride.

Going out tomorrow for day two. Forecast temp 96degree F and 21mph. Should be interesting!

Btw, greats ride pic from those posting above me. Wish I had pics of my mud to put up as well *sigh*.

[Pan Dulce]

Just a short ride this evening for me - around 8 miles. It was pretty cool, around 65 degrees. My ears got pretty achy and cold; but I don't know what to do about that - I want to be able to hear what's going on around me, too.

I'm getting faster, which is still nothing close to what you ladies can do. Averaged around 12 mph, with a top speed of 22 mph. I'm getting there.

[kenyonchris]

Out on the patrol bike today....Its amazing to ride the same roads I ride on my road bike on the patrol bike. It is like going from Man o War to Greasy the pack mule.
This shift, every officer on my shift is a bike officer, so we rotate days, which means I don't ride as often as I do on shifts with only one or two bike officers. And it is HOT, I mean DANG HOT. It got so that every time I took a breath in, I could feel cool (and when 100 degrees feels cool, you know you are hot) air as it flowed between my vest and my undershirt. I rode from 8am to 1pm....and did about 30 miles. I would do that in an hour and a half on my road bike, but I was patrolling around, talking to people, taking a call or two, making traffic stops, and, of course, nearly getting hit by cars as they backed out of their driveway. I always keep my head up, and enjoy giving the lecture that follows the look of dismay that comes when they realize that they nearly squashed a cop. I get a lot of "yes, ma'ams" after that lecture.
Pretty uneventful.